Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.

Phillis

Sonnet XXXV. I hope and fear, I pray and hold my peace

Thomas Lodge (1558–1625)

I HOPE and fear, I pray and hold my peace,

Now freeze my thoughts and straight they fry again,

I now admire and straight my wonders cease,

I loose my bonds and yet myself restrain;

This likes me most that leaves me discontent,

My courage serves and yet my heart doth fail,

My will doth climb whereas my hopes are spent,

I laugh at love, yet when he comes I quail;

The more I strive, the duller bide I still,

I would be thanked, and yet I freedom love,

I would redress, yet hourly feed my ill,

I would repine, and dare not once reprove;

And for my love I am bereft of power,

And strengthless strive my weakness to devour.