"Astrophel and Stella" by Sir Philip Sidney is a seminal work in the canon of English poetry, exploring themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human emotion through the lens of courtly love. This collection of sonnets captures the poignant struggles of the speaker, Astrophel, as he navigates his deep affection for Stella, reflecting the timeless nature of love's trials and tribulations. The lyrical beauty and emotional depth of Sidney's verses resonate with listeners today, reminding us of the universal quest for connection and understanding in relationships. This work stands as a testament to the enduring power of poetry to articulate the intricacies of the human heart.

Epictetus (Greek: Επίκτητος; c.55–c.135) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. The name given by his parents, if one was given, is not known - the word epiktetos in Greek simply means "acquired."Epictetus spent his youth as a slave in Rome to Epaphroditos, a very wealthy freedman of Nero. Even as a slave, Epictetus used his time productively, studying Stoic Philosophy under Musonius Rufus. He was eventually freed and lived a relatively hard life in ill health in Rome. So far as is known, Epictetus himself wrote nothing. All that we have of his work was transcribed by his pupil Arrian. The main work is The Discourses, four books of which have been preserved (out of an original eight). Arrian also compiled a popular digest, entitled the Enchiridion, or Handbook. In a preface to the Discourses, addressed to Lucius Gellius, Arrian states that "whatever I heard him say I used to write down, word for word, as best I could, endeavouring to preserve it as a memorial, for my own future use, of his way of thinking and the frankness of his speech". (Summary by Wikipedia)