| |
| AND if an eye may save or slay, | |
| And strike more deep than weapon long; | |
| And if an eye by subtle play, | |
| May move one more than any tongue; | |
| How can ye say that I do wrong, | 5 |
| Thus to suspect without desert? | |
| For the eye is traitor to the heart. | |
| To frame all well, I am content | |
| That it were done unweetingly; | |
| But yet I say, (who will assent,) | 10 |
| To do but well, do nothing why | |
| That men should deem the contrary; | |
| For it is said by men expert; | |
| That the eye is traitor of the heart. | |
| But yet, alas! that look, all soul, | 15 |
| That I do claim of right to have, | |
| Should not, methink —— go seek the school, | |
| To please all folk, for who can crave | |
| Friendlier thing than heart witsave | |
| By look to give in friendly part; | 20 |
| For the eye is traitor of the heart. | |
| And my suspect is without blame; | |
| For as ye say, not only I | |
| But other mo have deem’d the same; | |
| Then is it not jealousy, | 25 |
| But subtle look of reckless eye | |
| Did range too far, to make me smart; | |
| For the eye is traitor of the heart. | |
| But I your Friend shall take it thus, | |
| Since you will so, as stroke of chance; | 30 |
| And leave further for to discuss, | |
| Whether the stroke did stick or glance? | |
| But ’scuse who can let him advance | |
| Dissembled looks, but for my part, | |
| My eye must still betray my heart. | 35 |
| And of this grief ye shall be quit, | |
| In helping Truth steadfast to go. | |
| The time is long that Truth doth sit | |
| Feeble and weak, and suff’reth woe; | |
| Cherish him well, continue so; | 40 |
| Let him not fro’ your heart astart; | |
| Then fears not the eye to shew the heart. | |
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