| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Parthenophil and Parthenophe | | Sonnet XIII. When none of these, my sorrows would allege | | Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609) |
| | | WHEN none of these, my sorrows would allege; | |
| I sought to find the means, how I might hate thee! | |
| Then hateful Curiousness I did in-wedge | |
| Within my thoughts, which ever did await thee! | |
| I framed mine Eyes for an unjust controlment; | 5 |
| And mine unbridled Thoughts (because I dare not | |
| Seek to compel) did pray them, take enrolment | |
| Of Nature’s fault in her! and, equal, spare not! | |
| They searched, and found “her eyes were sharp and fiery, | |
| A mole upon her forehead coloured pale, | 10 |
| Her hair disordered, brown, and crispèd wiry, | |
| Her cheeks thin speckled with a summer’s male.” | |
| This told, men weened it was a pleasing tale | |
| Her to disgrace, and make my follies fade. | |
| And please, it did! but her, more gracious made. | 15 | | | |
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