| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Parthenophil and Parthenophe | | Sonnet IV. Laya, soon sounding out his nature throughly | | Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609) |
| | | LAYA, soon sounding out his nature throughly, | |
| Found that he was a lovely virgin Boy. | |
| Causeless, why did thou then deal with him roughly? | |
| Not yet content with him, sometimes, to toy; | |
| But jealously kept, lest he should run from thee! | 5 |
| Whom if thou kindly meant to love, ’twas needless! | |
| Doubtless lest that he should run back to me! | |
| If of him, any deal thou didst stand heedless. | |
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| Thou coop’st him in thy closet’s secret corners; | |
| And then, thy heart’s dear playfellow didst make him! | 10 |
| Whom thou in person guardest! (lest suborners | |
| Should work his freelege, or in secret take him) | |
| And to this instant, never would forsake him! | |
| Since for soft service, slavish bonds be changed! | |
| Why didst thou, from thy jealous master range? | 15 | | | |
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