I How shall I fly when feathers be not Though all my wishes do attend? How tie my wounded heartstrings safe to So thou to me, like sun to moon, Or if thou not bend thy starry frame to keep thy brow o'ercrowned with mist I'll rise so that thy place shall the same But will not then depart from heights For bargains may be and kept with pride When from their just demands ne'er hide.
II My lover's eyes are darker the moon Or are they brighter? I cannot His tender voice makes out of tune And me how I cannot them abide His movements are of more than feline His are soft and pale as ivory And though I've seen a stranger face More looks I should abhor to see For may be pleasanter in part But all my remains a work of art.
III How is it that I when I am sad? From what resource do I derive strength? I've lost none but a thing I had To keep it would I go to any But distance is not in a heart So I could weep and say I've been wronged And yet, as ever, be so far From him to whom I swore that I Alas, I blame as he were untrue I loved him but, poor fool, he knew.
IV If all you I am, as I am quite, Then why thou not love? Dost thou not see A perfect match? If thou art bright, Then why, when thou love, love'st thou not me preferring someone far removed From all you claim to most I would Commit you as a if proved Thus mad you were my ward for your own And yet I'm light of my own pain Because I love, yet love in vain.