SONNET 18
How oft have I, my dear and cruel foe, With those your eyes, for to getpeace and truce, Proffered you mine heart, but you do not use Among so high things to cast your mind so low. If any other look for it, as ye trow, Their vain weak hope doth greatly them abuse, And thus I disdain that ye refuse. It was once mine, it can no more be so. If I then it chase, nor it in you can find In this exile no manner of comfort; Nor live alone nor where he is called resort; He may wander from his natural kind. So shall it be great hurt unto us twain, And your's the loss and minethe deadly pain. How oft have I, my dere and cruell foo, With those your Iyes, for to get peace and truyse, Profferd you myn herte but you do not use Emong so high thinges to cast your mynde so lowe. Yf any othr loke for it, as ye trowe, There vayn weke hope doth greatly them abuse : And thus I disdain that ye refuse : It was ons myn it can no more be so. Yf I then it chase, nor it in you can fynde In this exile no manner of comfort : Nor lyve alone nor where he is called resort ; He may wander from his natural kynd. So shall it be great hurt unto us twayn, And yowres the losse and myn the dedly pain.
NOTES
you do not use = you are not accustomed to.among so high things = in the company of those high thoughts which your mind dwells upon.If any other look for it - peace and truce?as ye trow = as you know.abuse = deceive.And thus I disdain that ye refuse = thus I have contempt for your refusal (to accept my heart?).It was once mine - i.e. my heart was once my own.nor it in you can find / In this exile = if my heart, being exiled from me and you, can find no comfort.nor where he is called resort = nor be permitted to go where he (the heart) is summoned or invited.He may wander from his naturalkind = he (the heart) may become unnatural and vicious.
