SONNET 13
Though I my self be bridled of my mind, Returning me backward by force express; If thou seek honour to keep thy promise, Who may thee hold my heart but thou thyself unbind. Sigh thou no more, since no way man may find Thy virtue to let : though thatfrowardness Of fortune me holdeth; and yet, as I may guess, Though other be present, thou art not all behind. Suffice it then that thou be ready there At all hours: still under the defence Of time, truth, and love, to save thee from offence: Crying "I burn in a lovely desire With my mistress", that may not follow, Whereby his absence turnethhim to sorrow. Though I my self be bridilled of my mynde, Retorning me backeward by force expresse ; If thou seke honour to kepe thy promes, Who may thee hold my hert but thou thyself unbind. Sigh thou no more, syns no way man may fynde Thy vertue to let : though that frowerdnes Of ffortune me holdeth ; and yet, as I may gesse, Though other be present, thou art not all behinde. Suffice it then that thou be redy there At all howres : still under the defence Of tyme, trouth, and love, to save thee from offence : Cryeng "I burne in a lovely desire With my maisteres", that maynot followe ; Whereby his absence tornethhim to sorrowe.
NOTES
bridled of my mind = self-controlled.force express = determined effort.to let = to hinderN.B. The editor cannot offer a satisfactory explanation of this poem and must leave it to readers to make what meaning they can out of it.
