23
As an unperfect actor on the stage,
Who with his fear is put besides his part,
Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,
Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart; 4
So I, for fear of trust, forget to say
The perfect ceremony of love's rite,
And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,
O'ercharg'd with burden of mine own love's might. 8
O, let my books be then the eloquence
And dumb presagers of my speaking breast,
Who plead for love, and look for recompense,
More than that tongue that more hath more express'd.
O, learn to read what silent love hath writ: 13
To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.
24
Mine eye hath play'd the painter and hath stell'd
Thy beauty's form in table of my heart;
My body is the frame wherein 'tis held,
And perspective it is best painter's art. 4
For through the painter must you see his skill,
To find where your true image pictur'd lies,
Which in my bosom's shop is hanging still,
That hath his windows glazed with thine eyes. 8
Now see what good turns eyes for eyes have done:
Mine eyes have drawn thy shape, and thine for me
Are windows to my breast, where-through the sun
Delights to peep, to gaze therein on thee; 12
Yet eyes this cunning want to grace their art,
They draw but what they see, know not the heart.
2 put besides: put out of
5 fear of trust: fearing to trust myself (?), lacking all self-confidence (?)
10 presagers: indicators
12 that more . . . express'd: that more eloquently has told of greater devotion
1 stell'd: placed, engraved (?)
2 table: surface on which picture is drawn
4 perspective; cf. n.
