Love

Sonnet on Isabella Markham

by John Harington the Elder c. 1517–1582

From Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British Poets, ed. George Gilfillan (1860)

Love

Whence comes my love? O heart, disclose;
It was from cheeks that shamed the rose,
From lips that spoil the ruby's praise,
From eyes that mock the diamond's blaze:
Whence comes my woe? as freely own;
Ah me! 'twas from a heart like stone.

The blushing cheek speaks modest mind,
The lips befitting words most kind,
The eye does tempt to love's desire,
And seems to say, ''Tis Cupid's fire;'
Yet all so fair but speak my moan,
Since nought doth say the heart of stone.

Why thus, my love, so kind bespeak
Sweet eye, sweet lip, sweet blushing cheek
Yet not a heart to save my pain;
O Venus, take thy gifts again;
Make not so fair to cause our moan,
Or make a heart that's like our own.

MLA

Elder, John Harington the. “Sonnet on Isabella Markham.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington_elder/0/.

Chicago

Elder, John Harington the. “Sonnet on Isabella Markham.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington_elder/0/.

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