The Fifth Decade. Sonnet X. Prometheus for stealing living fire

Henry Constable (1562–1613)

PROMETHEUS for stealing living fire

From heaven’s king, was judged eternal death;

In self-same flame, with unrelenting ire,

Bound fast to Caucasus’ low foot beneath.

So I, for stealing living beauty’s fire

Into my verse, that it may always live;

And change his forms to shapes of my desire:

Thou beauty’s Queen! self sentence like dost give!

Bound to thy feet, in chains of love I lie;

For to thine eyes, I never dare aspire:

And in thy beauty’s brightness do I fry,

As poor PROMETHEUS in the scalding fire.

Which tears maintain, as oil the lamp revives;

Only my succour in thy favour lies.