XCVI. Thought! with good cause thou likest so well the night!

Sir Philip Sidney (1554–1586)

THOUGHT! with good cause thou likest so well the night!

Since kind or chance gives both one livery:

Both sadly black, both blackly darkened be;

Night barred from sun; thou, from thine own sunlight.

Silence in both displays his sullen might;

Slow heaviness in both holds one degree;

That full of doubts; thou, of perplexity:

Thy tears express night’s native moisture right.

In both a mazeful solitariness.

In night, of sprites the ghastly powers do stir;

In thee, or sprites or sprited ghastliness:

But, but, alas, night’s side the odds hath far:

For that, at length, yet doth invite some rest;

Thou, though still tired, yet still dost it detest!