SONNET 15
Avising the bright beams of these fair eyes,Where he is that mine oft moisteth and washeth,The wearied mind straight fromthe heart departeth, For to rest in his worldly paradise;And find the sweet bitter under this guise.What webs he hath wrought well he perceiveth,Whereby with himself on love he plaineth,That spurreth with fire and bridleth with ice.Thus is it in such extremity brought;In frozen thought now, and now it standeth in flame,Twixt misery and wealth, twixt earnest and game;But few glad, and many a diversthought.With sore repentaunce of his hardiness;Of such a root cometh fruit fruitless. Avysing the bright bemes of these fayre Iyes, Where he is that myn oft moisteth and wassheth, The weirde mynde streght from the hert departeth, For to rest in his woroldly paradise ; And fynde the swete bitter under this gyse. What webbes he hath wrought well he perceveth : Whereby with himself on love he playneth : That spurreth with fyer and bridilleth with Ise. Thus is it in suche extremitie brought; In frossen though nowe, andnowe it stondeth in flame : Twyst misery and welth twyst ernest and game ; But few glad, and many a dyvers thought. With sore repentaunce of hishardines : Of such a rote cometh ffruytefruytles.
NOTES
avising = seeing, viewing.these fair eyes = the eyes of his beloved.where he is = wherein love (Cupid) dwells.his worldly paradise = Cupid's garden of delights.under this guise = in this manner, through this experience.webs = nets, tangles.on love he plaineth = he complains of love.That spurreth etc. - i.e Love spurs the lover on with fire, andrestrains him with ice.Thus is it - 'it' refers to the mindof line 3.twixt earnest and game = between seriousness and frivolity.hardiness = boldness, foolishness.
