| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Sonnets after Astrophel, etc. | | Sonnet XVII. Whilst by her eyes pursued, my poor heart flew it | | Samuel Daniel (1562–1619) |
| | | WHILST by her eyes pursued, my poor heart flew it | |
| Into the sacred bosom of my Dearest; | |
| She there, in that sweet sanctuary, slew it, | |
| When it had hoped his safety to be nearest. | |
| My faith of privilege could no whit protect it; | 5 |
| That was with blood, and three years’ witness signed: | |
| Whereby she had no cause once to suspect it, | |
| For well she saw my love, and how I pined. | |
| Yet no hope’s letter would her brow reveal me, | |
| No comfort’s hue which falling spirits erecteth; | 10 |
| What boots to laws of succour to appeal me? | |
| Ladies and tyrants never laws respecteth. | |
| Then there I die, where I had hope to liven; | |
| And by her hand that better might have given. | | | | |
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