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Home  »  The English Poets  »  Extracts from The Hecatompathia: Passion XL

Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne

Thomas Watson (1555–1592)

Extracts from The Hecatompathia: Passion XL

  • The sense contained in this Sonnet will seem strange to such as never have acquainted themselves with Love and his Laws, because of the contraieties mentioned therein. But to such, as Love at any time hath had under his banner, all and every part of it will appear to be a familiar truth. It is almost word for word taken out of Petrarch (where he beginneth,
  • ‘Pace non truouo, e non ho da far guerra;
  • E temo, espero, etc.?’)Parte prima Sonet. 105.
  • All, except three verses, which this Author hath necessarily added, for perfecting the number, which he hath determined to use in every one of these his passions.

    I JOY not peace, where yet no war is found;

    I fear, and hope; I burn, yet freeze withal;

    I mount to heav’n, yet lie but on the ground;

    I compass nought, and yet I compass all:

    I live her bond, which neither is my foe,

    Nor friend; nor holds me fast, nor lets me go;

    Love will not that I live, nor lets me die;

    Nor locks me fast, nor suffers me to scape;

    I want both eyes and tongue, yet see and cry;

    I wish for death, yet after help I gape;

    I hate myself, but love another wight;

    And feed on grief, in lieu of sweet delight;

    At selfsame time I both lament and joy;

    I still am pleas’d, and yet displeased still;

    Love sometimes seems a God, sometimes a Boy;

    Sometimes I sink, sometimes I swim at will;

    Twixt death and life, small difference I make;

    All this dear Dame befalls me for thy sake.