Sonnet XXIV. These, mine heart-eating Eyes do never gaze

Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609)

THESE, mine heart-eating Eyes do never gaze

Upon thy sun’s harmonious marble wheels,

But from these eyes, through force of thy sun’s blaze,

Rain tears continual, whiles my faith’s true steels,

Tempered on anvil of thine heart’s cold Flint,

Strike marrow-melting fire into mine eyes;

The Tinder, whence my Passions do not stint

As Matches to those sparkles which arise.

Which, when the Taper of mine heart is lighted,

Like salamanders, nourish in the flame:

And all the Loves, with my new Torch delighted,

Awhile, like gnats, did flourish in the same;

But burnt their wings, nor any way could frame

To fly from thence, since JOVE’s proud bird (that bears

His thunder) viewed my sun; but shed down tears.