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| FAIN 1 to content, I bend myself to write, | |
| But what to write my mind can scarce conceive: | |
| Your radiant eyes crave objects of delight | |
| My heart no glad impressions can receive: | |
| To write of grief is but a tedious thing, | 5 |
| And woeful men of woe must needly sing. | |
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| To write the truce, the wars, the strife, the peace, | |
| That Love once wrought in my distempered heart, | |
| Were but to cause my wonted woes increase, | |
| And yield new life to my concealèd smart: | 10 |
| Who tempts the ear with tedious lines of grief, | |
| That waits for joy, complains without relief. | |
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| To write what pains supplanteth others’ joy, | |
| Therefore is folly in the greatest wit: | |
| Who feels may best decipher the annoy: | 15 |
| Who knows the grief but he that tasteth it? | |
| Who writes of woe must needs be woe-begone, | |
| And writing feel, and feeling write of moan. | |
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| To write the temper of my last desire, | |
| That likes me best, and appertains you most: | 20 |
| You are the Pharos whereto now retire | |
| My thoughts, long wand’ring in a foreign coast: | |
| In you they live, to other joys they die, | |
| And, living, draw their food from your fair eye. | |
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| Enforced by Love, and that effectual fire | 25 |
| That springs from you to quicken loyal hearts, | |
| I write in part the prime of my desire, | |
| My faith, my fear, that springs from your desarts: | |
| My faith, whose firmness never shunneth trial; | |
| My fear, the dread and danger of denial. | 30 |
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| To write in brief a legend in a line, | |
| My heart hath vowed to draw his life from yours; | |
| My looks have made a sun of your sweet eyne, | |
| My soul doth draw his essence from your powers: | |
| And what I am, in fortune or in love, | 35 |
| All those have sworn to serve for your behove. | |
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| My senses seek their comforts from your sweet: | |
| My inward mind your outward fair admires; | |
| My hope lies prostrate at your pity’s feet; | |
| My heart, looks, soul, sense, mind, and hope desires | 40 |
| Belief and favour in your lovely sight: | |
| Else all will cease to live and pen to write. | |
