I How shall I fly feathers be not mine Though all my skyward do attend? How tie my wounded safe to thine So thou to me, sun to moon, descend? Or if wilt not bend thy starry frame Wishing to thy brow o'ercrowned with mist I'll so that thy place shall stay the same But will not then depart heights unkiss'd For bargains may be struck and kept with When from their just demands ne'er hide.
II My lover's are darker than the moon Or are they I cannot decide His voice makes other's out of tune And shows me how I cannot abide His movements are of more than feline His hands are and pale as ivory And though I've rarely a stranger face perfect looks I should abhor to see For may be pleasanter in part But all my love a work of art.
III How is it that I smile I am sad? what resource do I derive this strength? I've lost none but a I never had To it would I go to any length But distance is not in a heart So I could weep and say that I've been And yet, as ever, be so far From him to whom I swore that I Alas, I blame as he were untrue I loved him but, fool, he never knew.
IV If all you I am, as I am quite, Then why dost thou not love? thou not see A perfect match? If thou art bright, Then why, when thou dost love, love'st not me preferring someone far removed From all you claim to admire? I would Commit you as a if proved Thus mad you were my ward for own good And yet I'm making light of my own Because I love, yet love in vain.