Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/591

SONNET V.

Why doth my mistress credit so her glass
Gazing her beauty, deigned her by the skies?
And doth not rather look on him, alas!
Whose state best shows the force of murdering eyes.

The broken tops of lofty trees declare
The fury of a mercy-wanting storm:
And of what force your wounding graces are,
Upon myself, you best may find the form.

Then leave your glass, and gaze yourself on me!
That mirror shows the power of your face:
To admire your form too much may danger be,
NARCISSUS changed to flower in such a case.
    I fear your change! Not flower nor hyacinth;
    MEDUSA's eye may turn your heart to flint.



SONNET VI.


These amber locks are those same nets, my Dear!
Wherewith my liberty thou didst surprise.
Love was the flame that fired me so near.
The darts transpiercing were these crystal eyes.

Strong is the net, and fervent is the flame,
Deep is the stroke, my sighs can well report:
Yet do I love, adore and praise the same;
That holds, that burns, that wounds me in that sort.

I list not seek to break, to quench, to heal
This bond, this flame, this wound that festereth so;
By knife, by liquor or by salve to deal:
So much I please to perish in my woe.
    Yet, lest long travels be above my strength
    Good Lady! loose, quench, heal me now at length!