E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
As’trophel.
Sir Philip Sidney. “Phil. Sid.” being a contraction of Philos Sidus, and the Latin sidus being changed to the Greek astron, we get astron-philos (star-lover). The “star” that he loved was Penelope Devereux, whom he called Stella (star), and to whom he was betrothed. Edmund Spenser wrote a pastoral called Astrophel, to the memory of his friend and patron, who fell at the battle of Zutphen. (1554–1586.)
