The Eighth Decade. Sonnet II. Give period to my matter of complaining

Henry Constable (1562–1613)

GIVE period to my matter of complaining,

Fair Wonder of our time’s admiring eye!

And entertain no more thy long disdaining,

Or give me leave, at last, that I may die!

For who can live, perpetually secluded

From death to life, that loathes her discontent?

Less by some hope seducingly deluded,

Such thoughts aspire to fortunate event;

But I, that now have drawn mal-pleasant breath,

Under the burden of thy cruel hate;

O, I must long, and linger after death;

And yet I dare not give my life her date:

For if I die, and thou repent t’have slain me;

’Twill grieve me more, than if thou didst disdain me.