The Second Decade. Sonnet II. It may be, Love my death doth not pretend

Henry Constable (1562–1613)

IT may be, LOVE my death doth not pretend,

Although he shoots at me: but thinks it fit

Thus to bewitch thee for thy benefit!

Causing thy will to my wish to condescend.

For witches, which some murder do intend,

Do make a picture, and do shoot at it;

And in that part where they the picture hit,

The party’s self doth languish to his end.

So LOVE, too weak by force thy heart to taint,

Within my heart thy heavenly shape doth paint;

Suffering therein his arrows to abide,

Only to th’end he might, by witches’ art,

Within my heart, pierce through thy picture’s side;

And through thy picture’s side, might wound my heart.