Sarah Williams

There is more than one author with this name

Sarah Williams (1837–1868) was an English poet, probably best known as the author of the poem "The Old Astronomer", also known as "The Old Astronomer to His Pupil", that begins "Reach me down my Tycho Brahe..." and contains the famous line "I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."

A segment of her poem is used in the introduction to Ian Rankin's novel Set in Darkness.

Though my soul may set in darkness,
it will rise in perfect light.
I have loved the stars too fondly
to be fearful of the night.

She published short works and one collection of poetry during her lifetime under the pseudonyms Sadie and S.A.D.I., the former of which she considered her name rather than a nom de plume. Her posthumously published second poetry collection and novel appeared under her given name.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_W...