Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.

Laura—Part II

XXXVII. An ocean Sea of water calm am I

Robert Tofte (1561–1620)

AN OCEAN Sea of water calm am I;

Wherein kind LOVE the form of Fish doth take,

Leaping alongst the shore most wantonly.

Then, Lady, of a Fisher don the shape!

Ah, what sweet fishing shall you have to like;

If LOVE you chance to catch, while he doth bite?

Come then, and naked into this water hie!

He cannot ’scape; but, here, perforce must bide!

’Less to my heart, to save himself, he fly.

Then quickly strip thyself! Lay fear aside!

For of this dainty prey, which thou shalt take;

Both Sea, Fish, and Thyself, thou glad shalt make.