| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Parthenophil and Parthenophe | | Sonnet XCVII. O why should Envy, with sweet Love consort? | | Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609) |
| | | O WHY should Envy, with sweet Love consort? | |
| But that, with Love’s excess, Seven Sins unite! | |
| Pride, that, in high respect of my delight, | |
| I scorn all others! Lust, that with disport | |
| In thought of her, I sometimes take comfort! | 5 |
| Wrath, that, with those, in secret heart I fight, | |
| Which smile on her! and Envy, that, I spite | |
| Such meats and wines, as to her lips resort | |
| And touch that tongue, which I can never kiss! | |
| Sloth, that, secure in too much love, I sleep; | 10 |
| And nuzzled so, am to be freed remiss! | |
| And Covetous, I never mean can keep | |
| In craving, wishing, and in working this; | |
| Though still I kiss and touch, still touch and kiss! | | | | |
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