Elizabethan Sonnet-Cycles

As how the pole to every place was reared, What capes he doubled, of what continent, The gulfs and straits that strangely he had past, Where most becalmed, where with foul weather spent, And on what rocks in peril to be cast : Thus hi my love, time calls me to relate My tedious travels and oft-varying fate. My heart was slain, and none but you and I; Who should I think the murder should commit ? Since but yourself there was no creature by But only I, guiltless of murdering it. It slew itself; the verdict on the view Do quit the dead, and me not accessary. Well, well, I fear it will be proved by you, The evidence so great a proof doth carry. But O see, see, we need inquire no further ! Upon your lips the scarlet drops are found, And in your eye the boy that did the murder, Your cheeks yet pale since" first he gave the wound! By this I see, however things be past, Yet heaven will still have murder out at last. Taking my pen, with words to cast my woe, Duly to count the sum of all my cares, I find my griefs innumerable grow, The reck'nings rise to millions of despairs. And thus dividing of my fatal hours, The payments of my love I read and cross ; Subtracting, set my sweets unto my sours, My joys' arrearage leads me to my loss. And thus mine eyes a debtor to thine eye, Which by extortion gaineth all their looks, My heart hath paid such grievous usury, That all their wealth lies in thy beauty's books. And all is...