Page:The New Life (Rossetti 1899) Siddal ed.djvu/149

condition. And I wrote this which begins, "The very bitter weeping."

The sonnet has two parts. In the first, I speak to my eyes, as my heart spoke within myself. In the second, I remove a difficulty, showing who it is that speaks thus: and this part begins here, "So far." It well might receive other divisions also; but this would be useless, since it is manifest by the preceding exposition.

"The very bitter weeping that ye made
⁠So long a time together, eyes of mine,
⁠Was wont to make the tears of pity shine
In other eyes full oft, as I have said.
But now this thing were scarce remembered
⁠If I, on my part, foully would combine
⁠With you, and not recall each ancient sign
Of grief, and her for whom your tears were shed

It is your fickleness that doth betray