| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Laura—Part III. | | XXI. Laura is fair and cruel both in one | | Robert Tofte (1561–1620) |
| | | LAURA is fair and cruel both in one; | |
| And born was of a dainty diamond. | |
| Then is it marvel, neither wonder, none; | |
| Although her heart as hard as stone be found. | |
| Nature that hardness, as a Keeper, gave | 5 |
| To her, her beauty thereby so to save. | |
| But fond is he, and simple in conceit, | |
| That thinks LOVE will not, one day, burst the same. | |
| Then quickly, mighty Lord, quickly this break! | |
| Break thou this stony heart, so hard, in twain! | 10 |
| Unto thy power, let Nature’s force still yield! | |
| And be thou Conqueror ’gainst her in Field! | | | | |
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