I How I fly when feathers be not mine Though all my wishes do attend? How tie my wounded safe 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 mist I'll rise so that thy place shall the same But will not then depart from heights For bargains may be struck and kept pride When lovers from their just ne'er hide.
II My eyes are darker than the moon Or are they I cannot decide His tender voice makes other's out of And shows me how I cannot them His movements are of more than feline His hands are soft and pale as And though rarely seen 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 resource do I derive strength? I've lost none but a thing I had To it would I go to any length But distance is not measured in a So I could weep and say that been wronged And yet, as ever, be so far From him to whom I swore that I Alas, I blame as though he were I loved him but, fool, he never knew.
IV If all you I am, as I am quite, Then why dost thou not Dost thou not see A plainly perfect match? If art bright, Then why, when thou love, love'st thou not me Instead preferring someone far all you claim to most admire? 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.