I How shall I fly feathers be not mine Though all my skyward do attend? How tie my wounded safe to thine So thou to me, sun to moon, descend? Or if thou wilt not bend thy frame Wishing to keep thy brow o'ercrowned with I'll rise so that thy place stay the same But not then depart from heights unkiss'd For may be struck and kept with pride When lovers from their demands ne'er hide.
II My lover's eyes are than the moon Or are they brighter? I decide His tender voice makes other's out of And shows me how I cannot them His movements are of more feline grace His hands are soft and pale as And though I've rarely a stranger face More perfect I should abhor to see For others may be in part But all my love a work of art.
III How is it that I when I am sad? From resource do I derive this strength? I've lost none but a thing I had To keep it would I go to any But distance is not in a heart So I could weep and say that I've been And yet, as ever, be so far From him to I swore that I belonged 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 love? Dost not see A perfect match? If thou art bright, Then why, when 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 mad you were my ward for your own good And yet I'm making light of my own Because I love, yet love in vain.