I How shall I fly feathers be not mine Though all my wishes do attend? How tie my wounded heartstrings safe to So thou to me, like sun to moon, Or if thou not bend thy starry frame Wishing to thy brow o'ercrowned with mist I'll rise so that thy place shall the same But will not then from heights unkiss'd For bargains may be and kept with pride When lovers from just demands ne'er hide.
II My lover's eyes are than the moon Or are brighter? I cannot decide His tender voice makes out of tune And shows me how I cannot abide His movements are of more feline grace His hands are soft and as ivory And though rarely seen a stranger face More perfect I should abhor to see For others may be pleasanter in But all my love a work of art.
III How is it that I when I am sad? From resource do I derive this strength? lost none but a thing I never had To it would I go to any length But distance is not in a heart So I could weep and say I've been wronged And yet, as ever, be so far From him to I swore that I belonged Alas, I as though he were untrue I loved him but, fool, he never knew.
IV If all you I am, as I am quite, Then why thou not love? Dost thou not see A plainly perfect match? If art bright, why, when thou dost love, love'st thou not me Instead someone far removed all you claim to most admire? I would Commit you as a lunatic if Thus mad you my ward for your own good And yet I'm making light of my own Because I love, yet love in vain.