| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Parthenophil and Parthenophe | | Sonnet VI. Him when I caught, what chains had I provided! | | Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609) |
| | | HIM when I caught, what chains had I provided! | |
| What fetters had I framed! What locks of Reason! | |
| What Keys of Continence had I devised | |
| (Impatient of the breach) ’gainst any treason! | |
| But fair PARTHENOPHE did urge me still | 5 |
| To liberal pardon, for his former fault; | |
| Which, out alas! prevailèd with my will. | |
| Yet moved I bonds, lest he should make default: | |
| Which willingly She seemed to undertake, | |
| And said, “As I am virgin! I will be | 10 |
| His bail for this offence; and if he make | |
| Another such vagary, take of me | |
| A pawn, for more assurance unto thee!” | |
| “Your love to me,” quoth I, “your pawn shall make! | |
| So that, for his default, I forfeit take.” | 15 | | | |
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