113
Since I left you, mine eye is in my mind;
And that which governs me to go about
Doth part his function and is partly blind,
Seems seeing, but effectually is out; 4
For it no form delivers to the heart
Of bird, of flower, or shape, which it doth latch:
Of his quick objects hath the mind no part,
Nor his own vision holds what it doth catch; 8
For if it see the rud'st or gentlest sight,
The most sweet favour or deformed'st creature,
The mountain or the sea, the day or night,
The crow or dove, it shapes them to your feature: 12
Incapable of more, replete with you,
My most true mind thus maketh mine untrue.
114
Or whether doth my mind being crown'd with you,
Drink up the monarch's plague, this flattery?
Or whether shall I say mine eye saith true,
And that your love taught it this alchemy, 4
To make of monsters and things indigest
Such cherubins as your sweet self resemble,
Creating every bad a perfect best,
As fast as objects to his beams assemble? 8
O, 'tis the first, 'tis flattery in my seeing,
And my great mind most kingly drinks it up:
Mine eye well knows what with his gust is 'greeing,
And to his palate doth prepare the cup: 12
If it be poison'd, 'tis the lesser sin
That mine eye loves it and doth first begin.
3 Doth part his function: does but part of its natural work
4 effectually: practically
5 it: my eye
heart: mind
6 latch: catch
7 his: the eye's
8 his own: the eye's
10 favour: countenance
14 Cf. n.
1 Or whether doth: is it true that
5 indigest: formless
10 kingly: like a king
11 what . . . 'greeing: what agrees with the mind's taste
13, 14 Cf. n.
