Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.
Parthenophil and ParthenopheOde 19. Why should I weep in vain, poor and remedyless?
Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609)W
Why should I make complaint to the deaf wilderness?
Why should I sigh for ease? Sighs, they breed malady!
Why should I groan in heart? Groans, they bring misery!
Why should tears, plaints, and sighs, mingled with heavy groans,
Practise their cruelty, whiles I complain to stones?
O what a cruel heart, with such a tyranny,
Hardly she practiseth, in grief’s extremity?
Such to make conquered whom she would have depressed,
Such a man to disease, whom she would have oppressed.
O but, P
Cruelty, beauty stains! Thou, Sweet! art beautiful!
If that I made offence, my love is all the fault
Which thou can charge me with, then do not make assault
With such extremities, for my kind hearty love!
But for love’s pity sake, from me, thy frowns remove!
So shall thou make me blest! So shall my sorrows cease!
So shall I live at ease! So shall my joys acrease!
So shall tears, plaints, and sighs, mingled with heavy groans,
Weary the rocks no more! nor lament to the stones!