Canzon 35. Since from the flowered sweets of every blessedness

Anonymous

SINCE from the flowered sweets of every blessedness,

Which from thy beauties delicate peruse

Incessantly doth flow, mine heart, like anch’ress

Aye cloistered, lives to sad and cheerless Muse.

If any smiling joy fortune to fawn on me,

Suggesting to my spirit sweet content:

Anon, I article with his felicity;

And ere mine heart vouchsafes him entertainment,

I him depose, on these Interrogatories.

First, “If he came from my ZEPHERIA?”

Then, “If he may to light restore mine eyes,

Which long have dwelt in dark?” If then, he say,

“Nay! but thy thoughts to unbend from off her beauties,

I come!” eftsoons, I strangle him while in his infancy,

Better slay him, than he do thee to die!