I How shall I fly when feathers be not all my wishes skyward 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 lovers from their just ne'er hide.
II My lover's eyes are darker than the Or are they brighter? I decide His tender voice makes other's out of And shows me how I them abide His movements are of than feline grace His are soft and pale as ivory And I've rarely seen a stranger face perfect looks I should abhor to see For others may be pleasanter in But all my love remains a of art.
III How is it that I smile I am sad? From resource do I derive this strength? lost none but a thing I never had To keep it would I go to any But distance is not in a heart So I could weep and say that I've been And yet, as ever, be so far From him to whom I swore that I Alas, I blame as though he were I loved him but, poor fool, he knew.
IV If all you I am, as I am quite, Then why dost thou not love? Dost not see A plainly perfect match? If art bright, Then why, when thou love, love'st thou not me Instead preferring far removed From all you claim to admire? I would Commit you as a lunatic if Thus mad you were my ward for own good And yet I'm making of my own pain I finally love, yet love in vain.