Love
Loe here behold these tributarie teares
From The Affectionate Shepheard (1594)
Loe here behold these tributarie teares
Paid to thy faire but cruell tyrant eyes;
Loe here the blossome of my youthfull yeares,
Nipt with the fresh of thy wraths winter, dyes!
Here on Loves altar I doo offer up
This burning hart for my soules sacrifice;
Here I receave this deadly-poysned cup
Of Circe charm'd, wherein deepe magicke lyes.
Then teares, if you be happie teares indeed,
And hart, if thou be lodged in his brest,
And cup, if thou canst helpe despaire with speed,
Teares, hart, and cup, conjoine to make me blest!
Teares move, hart win, cup cause, ruth, love, desire,
In word, in deed; by moane, by zeale, by fire.
Codex Note
A sonnet in which the speaker lays his tears, his heart and a poisoned cup before a cruel mistress, and asks them to bring him relief.
Cite this poem
MLA
Barnfield, Richard. “Loe here behold these tributarie teares.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/barnfield/4/.
Chicago
Barnfield, Richard. “Loe here behold these tributarie teares.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/barnfield/4/.
Read this poem with the Codex →