Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.
CœliaSonnet XVII. Relent, my dear, yet unkind Cœlia!
William Percy (1575–1648)R
At length, relent, and give my sorrows end!
So shall I keep my long-wished holiday,
And set a trophy on a froward friend!
Nor tributes, nor imposts, nor other duties
Demand I will, as lawful Conqueror!
Duties, tributes, imposts unto thy beauties,
Myself will pay as yieldèd Servitor!
Then quick relent! thyself surrender us!
“Brave Sir, and why,” quoth She, “must I relent?”
“Relent,” cried I, “thyself doth conquer us!”
When eftsoons with my proper instrument
She cut me off, ay me! and answerèd,
“You cannot conquer, and be conquerèd.”