Love

To a cruell Dame for grace and pittie

by George Turberville c. 1540–c. 1610

From Epitaphes, Epigrams, Songs and Sonets (1567)

Love

AS I doe lack the skill
to show my faithfull hart:
So doe you want good will
too rue your Louers smart.
The greater is my fire
the lesser is your heate:
The more that I desire
the lesse you séeme to sweate.
O quench not so the Coale
of this my faithfull flame,
With nayes thou frowarde soule,
let yeas increase the same.
Let vs at length agrée
whome Cupid made by law
Eche others friend to bée
in fansies yoke to draw.
If I doe plaie my part
at any time amis,
Then doe bestowe thy hart
where greater Friendship is.
But if in true good will
I beare my selfe vpright,
Let mée enioy thee still
my seruice too requight.
Go thou my fierie Dart
of scalding whote desire
To pierre hir ysie hart
and set hir brest on fire.
That I may both prolong
my painefull pyning dayes,
And eke auendge hir wrong
that paine for pleasure payes.
I neuer sawe the stone
but often drops would wast:
Nor Dame but daylie mone
would make hir yeelde at last.

MLA

Turberville, George. “To a cruell Dame for grace and pittie.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/turberville/107/.

Chicago

Turberville, George. “To a cruell Dame for grace and pittie.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/turberville/107/.

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