| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Parthenophil and Parthenophe | | Sonnet LIV. When I was young, indued with Nature’s graces | | Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609) |
| | | WHEN I was young, indued with Nature’s graces; | |
| I stole blind LOVE’s strong bow and golden arrows, | |
| To shoot at redbreasts, goldfinches, and sparrows; | |
| At shrewd girls; and at boys, in other places. | |
| I shot, when I was vexèd with disgraces. | 5 |
| I pierced no skin, but melted up their marrows. | |
| How many boys and girls wished mine embraces! | |
| How many praised my favour, ’bove all faces! | |
| But, once, PARTHENOPHE! by thy sweet side sitting, | |
| LOVE had espied me, in a place most fitting: | 10 |
| Betrayed by thine eyes’ beams (which make blind see) | |
| He shot at me; and said, “for thine eyes’ light; | |
| This daring boy (that durst usurp my right) | |
| Take him! a wounded slave to LOVE and Thee!” | | | | |
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