I How I fly when feathers be not mine Though all my wishes skyward do How tie my wounded heartstrings to thine So thou to me, like sun to moon, Or if thou not bend thy starry frame Wishing to keep thy brow o'ercrowned with I'll rise so that thy place stay the same But will not then depart from unkiss'd For bargains may be struck and with pride When lovers from their just demands hide.
II My lover's are darker than the moon Or are they brighter? I cannot His tender voice other's out of tune And shows me how I cannot abide His movements are of more than grace His hands are soft and as ivory And though I've rarely seen a face More looks 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 what resource do I this strength? I've none but a thing I never had To keep it would I go to any But is not measured in a heart So I could weep and say that been wronged And yet, as ever, be so far him to whom 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 dost not love? Dost thou not see A plainly perfect match? If art bright, Then why, when thou dost love, love'st not me Instead preferring far removed From all you 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.