| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Diana | The Fourth Decade
Sonnet V. Ready to seek out death in my disgrace | | Henry Constable (1562–1613) |
| | | READY to seek out death in my disgrace, | |
| My Mistress ’gan to smooth her gathered brows; | |
| Whereby I am reprievèd for a space. | |
| O Hope and Fear! who half your torments knows? | |
| It is some mercy in a black-mouthed Judge | 5 |
| To haste his prisoner’s end, if he must die. | |
| Dear! if all other favour you shall grudge, | |
| Do speedy execution with your eye! | |
| With one sole look, you leave in me no soul. | |
| Count it a loss to lose a faithful slave! | 10 |
| Would God, that I might hear my last bell toll, | |
| So in your bosom I might dig my grave. | |
| Doubtful delay is worse than any fever. | |
| Or help me soon! or cast me off for ever! | | | | |
|
|
