| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Diana | The Second Decade
Sonnet V. My Reason absent, did mine Eyes require | | Henry Constable (1562–1613) |
| | | MY REASON absent, did mine Eyes require | |
| To watch and ward, and such foes to descry | |
| As they should ne’er my heart approaching spy: | |
| But traitor Eyes, my heart’s death did conspire | |
| (Corrupted with HOPE’s gifts); let in DESIRE | 5 |
| To burn my heart: and sought no remedy, | |
| Though store of water were in either Eye, | |
| Which well employed, might well have quenched the fire. | |
| REASON returned; LOVE and FORTUNE made | |
| Judges, to judge mine Eyes to punishment. | 10 |
| FORTUNE, sith they, by sight my heart betrayed; | |
| From wishèd sight, adjudged them banishment! | |
| LOVE, sith by fire murdered my heart was found; | |
| Adjudged them in tears for to be drowned! | | | | |
|
|
