Sir PHILIP SIDNEY.
ASTROPHEL and STELLA.
Heralds at arms do three perfections quote,
To wit, most fair, most rich, most glittering,
So when these three concur within one thing
Needs must that thing ot honour be a note.
Lately did I behold a rich fair coat,
Which wished Fortune to mine eyes did bring.
A lordly coat, but worthy of a king,
In which one might all these perfections note,
A field of lilies, roses proper bare;
Two stars in chief, the crest was waves of gold:
How glittering 'twas, might by the stars appear:
The lilies made it fair for to behold.
And RICH it was as by the gold appeareth;
But happy he that in his arms it weareth.
H. CONSTABLE, DIANA. Sonnet X. 1594.
His very ways in the world did generally add reputation to his Prince and country, by restoring amongst us the ancient majesty of noble and true dealing; as a manly wisdom that can no more be weighed down by an effeminate craft, than HERCULES could be overcome by that effeminate army of dwarfs. And this was it which, I profess, I loved dearly in him, and still shall be glad to honour in the good men of this time: I mean that his heart and tongue went both one way, and so with every one that went with the truth; as knowing no other kindred, party, or end. Above all, he made the religion he professed the firm basis of his life.—FULKE GREVILLE, Life of Sir P. SIDNEY, p. 40, Ed. 1652.
Sir PHILIP SIDNEY, that exact image of quiet and action; happily united in him, and seldom well divided in any.—Idem. p. 171.
LADY PENELOPE DEVEREUX eldest child of WALTER, 2nd Earl of ESSEX; and elder sister to his successor ROBERT, the second favourite of Queen ELIZABETH: was Sir PHILIP SIDNEY'S first and only love, his STELLA.
Her first husband was ROBERT, 3rd Lord RICH; who after her death (1607) was made Earl of WARWICK (6th August, 1618). SIDNEY'S transparent Riddle at page 521 identifies STELLA with Lady RICH, i.e. the once Lady PENELOPE DEVEREUX.
We must first recall from the Elegy we have printed at pages 249-296; the testimony of SIDNEY'S dearest friends as to the relationship of STELLA to his life and soul. EDMUND SPENSER wrote—
For he could pipe, and dance, and carol sweet;
Emongst the shepherds in their shearing feast:
As summer's lark that with her song doth greet
The dawning day, forth coming from the East.
And lays of love he also would compose.
Thrice happy she! whom he to praise did choose.
