| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Diella | | Sonnet XXXIV. Why should a Maiden’s heart be of that proof | | Richard Linche (fl. 1596–1601) |
| | | WHY should a Maiden’s heart be of that proof | |
| as to resist the sharp-pointed dart of Love? | |
| My Mistress’ eye kills strongest man aloof; | |
| methinks, he’s weak, that cannot quail a Dove! | |
| A lovely Dove so fair and so divine, | 5 |
| able to make what cynic soe’er liveth, | |
| Upon his knees, to beg of their bright eyen, | |
| one smiling look, which life from death reviveth. | |
| The frozen heart of cold ZENOCRATES | |
| had been dissolvèd into hot Desire, | 10 |
| Had PHRYNE cast such sunbeams from her eyes | |
| (such eyes are cause that my heart flames in fire!): | |
| And yet with patience I must take my woe; | |
| In that my dearest Love will have it so. | | | | |
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