Sonnet XX. These Eyes (thy Beauty’s Tenants!) pay due tears

Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609)

THESE Eyes (thy Beauty’s Tenants!) pay due tears

For occupation of mine Heart, thy Freehold,

In Tenure of Love’s service! If thou behold

With what exaction, it is held through fears;

And yet thy Rents, extorted daily, bears.

Thou would not, thus, consume my quiet’s gold!

And yet, though covetous thou be, to make

Thy beauty rich, with renting me so roughly,

And at such sums: thou never thought dost take,

But still consumes me! Then, thou dost misguide all!

Spending in sport, for which I wrought so toughly!

When I had felt all torture, and had tried all;

And spent my Stock, through ’strain of thy extortion;

On that, I had but good hopes, for my portion.