I How shall I fly when feathers be not Though all my skyward do attend? How tie my wounded heartstrings safe to So to me, like sun to moon, descend? Or if wilt not bend thy starry frame Wishing to keep thy brow o'ercrowned with I'll rise so that thy shall stay the same But will not then depart heights unkiss'd For bargains may be struck and with pride When from their just demands ne'er hide.
II My lover's are darker than the moon Or are brighter? I cannot decide His tender voice makes out of tune And me how I cannot them abide His movements are of than feline grace His hands are and pale as ivory And I've rarely seen a stranger face More perfect I should abhor to see For others may be pleasanter in But all my remains a work of art.
III How is it that I when I am sad? From what resource do I derive strength? I've none but a thing I never had To it would I go to any length But distance is not measured in a So I weep and say that I've been wronged And yet, as ever, be so far From him to whom I that I belonged Alas, I blame as though he 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? Dost not see A plainly match? If thou art bright, why, when thou dost love, love'st thou not me Instead preferring far removed From all you claim to most I would Commit you as a lunatic if Thus mad you were my ward for own good And yet I'm light of my own pain Because I love, yet love in vain.