Sonnet II. O happy hour, and yet unhappy hour!

William Percy (1575–1648)

O HAPPY hour, and yet unhappy hour!

When first by chance I had my Goddess viewed;

Then first I tasted of the sweetest sour

Wherewith the cup of CYPRIA is embrued.

For gazing firm without suspicion,

LOVE, cooped behind the chariot of her eye,

Justly to school my bold presumption,

Against my heart did let an arrow fly.

“Fair Sir,” quoth he, “to practise have you nought

But to be gazing on Divinity?

Before you part, your leare you shall be taught!”

With that, at once, he made his arrows hie.

“Imperious God! I did it not to love her!

Ah, stay thy hand! I did it but to prove her!”