What does this poem mean?

Question

I am having trouble understanding what the words are saying. Can you explain it to me?

It is most true that eyes are formed to serve
The inward light, and that the heavenly part
Ought to be king, from whose rules who do swerve,
Rebels to Nature, strive for their own smart.
It is most true, what we call Cupid's dart
An image is, which for ourselves we carve;
And, fools, adore in temple of our heart,
Till that good god make church and churchman starve.
True, that true beauty virtue is indeed,
Whereof this beauty can be but a shade,
Which elements with mortal mixture breed;
True, that on earth we are but pilgrims made,
And should in soul up to our country move:
True, and yet true that I must Stella love.

It's from "Astrophil and Stella" by Sir Philip Sidney. Please explain it as detailed as possible. Thanks.

Answer 1

From gradesaver.com

Analysis: The poem depicts Virtue as a sort of stern schoolteacher. In doing so, the poem also creates a different view of Astrophel as the lover. Astrophel is young and full of life. He is contemptuous of churches, schools, and the power of thought because his will and his wit are constantly at odds with one another. He views the world in this way because he sees it through the lens of his love for Stella. In the last section of the poem, Astrophel becomes gentler as he begins to describe Stella. Stella's image is enough convince Virtue to fall in love, but Astrophel emphasizes that this is a result of her inherent virtue rather than her power.



5. Sidney lists a series of truths. First, we are born to serve reason alone. Second, lovers have only themselves to blame for succumbing to Cupid's dart. Third, virtue is beauty in its true form, rather than the superficial appearance that is usually regarded as beauty. The final truth here is that people are only pilgrims on this earth who should concentrate on their souls. Even though he recognizes the truth of all of these statements, he is unable to separate his rational understanding from the love in his heart. Despite his knowledge of all of these truths, he concludes that he still loves Stella. His love for her is truth for him even though all of the other truths contradict it.

Answer 2

it is true that my eyes ought to look on the true beauty of goodness, and that i am only making trouble for myself if i fancy somebody just because she is so hot.



and it is just as true that being in lurve is just a silly game of let's pretend that we fool ourselves with until we end up deep in the s***.



and it is true that a good person is the truly beautiful person, and that looking hot doesn't really improve a very good person.



and it is truest of all that we really ought to pay more attention to goodness of soul than we do to a buff figure.



and it is utterly true that i am just so hot for stella that my brain has melted.

Answer 3

Sounds like it's talking about humans turning away from God and harming nature and doing nothing but seeking their own selfish desires.

Answer 4

If you go to the below website you will find an analysis and summary on each sonnet in Astrophil and Stella.



http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/astrophil/sources.html

Answer 5

lol no ideah