I How shall I fly when feathers be not all my wishes skyward do attend? How tie my wounded heartstrings to thine So to me, like sun to moon, descend? Or if thou wilt not bend thy starry Wishing to keep thy brow o'ercrowned with I'll rise so thy place shall stay the same But not then depart from heights unkiss'd For may be struck and kept with pride When lovers 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 other's out of And shows me how I cannot them His movements are of than feline grace His hands are soft and as ivory And though I've rarely a stranger 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 I smile when I am sad? From what do I derive this strength? I've none but a thing I never had To keep it would I go to any But distance is not measured in a So I could and say that I've been wronged And yet, as ever, be so far From him to I swore that I belonged 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 plainly match? If thou art bright, why, when thou dost love, love'st thou not me Instead preferring someone far From all you claim to most admire? I Commit you as a lunatic if Thus mad you were my ward for your own And yet I'm making light of my own Because I love, yet love in vain.