| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Diella | | Sonnet VII. When Love had first besieged my heart’s strong wall | | Richard Linche (fl. 1596–1601) |
| | [Cf. Barnes’ Parthenophil, and Percy’s Coelia.]
WHEN LOVE had first besieged my heart’s strong wall, | |
| rampiered and countermured with Chastity, | |
| And had with ordnance made his tops to fall | |
| stooping their glory to his surquedry: | |
| I called a parley, and withal did crave | 5 |
| some Composition, or some friendly Peace; | |
| To this request, he, his consent soon gave, | |
| as seeming glad such cruel wars should cease. | |
| I, nought mistrusting, opened all the gates, | |
| yea, lodged him in the palace of my heart: | 10 |
| When, he, in dead of night, he seeks his mates, | |
| And shews each traitor how to play his part; | |
| With that, they fired my heart! and thence ’gan fly! | |
| Their names, Sweet Smiles, Fair Face, and Piercing Eye. | | | | |
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