39
O, how thy worth with manners may I sing,
When thou art all the better part of me?
What can mine own praise to mine own self bring?
And what is 't but mine own when I praise thee? 4
Even for this let us divided live,
And our dear love lose name of single one,
That by this separation I may give
That due to thee, which thou deserv'st alone. 8
O absence! what a torment wouldst thou prove,
Were it not thy sour leisure gave sweet leave
To entertain the time with thoughts of love,
Which time and thoughts so sweetly doth deceive, 12
And that thou teachest how to make one twain,
By praising him here who doth hence remain.
40
Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all;
What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?
No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call;
All mine was thine before thou hadst this more. 4
Then, if for my love thou my love receivest,
I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;
But yet be blam'd, if thou thyself deceivest
By wilful taste of what thyself refusest. 8
I do forgive thy robbery, gentle thief,
Although thou steal thee all my poverty;
And yet, love knows it is a greater grief
To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury. 12
Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,
Kill me with spites; yet we must not be foes.
1 with manners: becomingly
11 entertain: pass away
13, 14 And that thou teachest . . . remain; cf. n.
1–14 Cf. n.
5 if for: if because of (?), if instead of (?)
my love receivest: receivest the woman I love
6 for: because
8 By wilful taste . . . refusest; cf. n.
14 spites: injuries
