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, sun to moon, descend? Or if wilt not bend thy starry frame Wishing to keep thy brow with mist I'll so that thy place shall stay the same But will not then depart from heights For bargains may be struck and kept with When lovers from their demands ne'er hide.
II My lover's are darker than the moon Or are they brighter? I decide His voice makes other's out of tune And me how I cannot them abide His movements are of more feline grace His hands are and pale as ivory And though I've rarely a stranger face perfect 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 smile when I am From what resource do I derive strength? I've lost but a thing I never had To keep it would I go to any But distance is not measured in a So I could weep and say that I've been And yet, as ever, be so far From him to whom I that I belonged Alas, I blame as he were untrue I loved him but, poor fool, he 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, Then why, when dost love, love'st thou not me preferring someone far removed From all you claim to most I would you as a lunatic if proved Thus mad you were my ward for your own And yet I'm making of my own pain I finally love, yet love in vain.