| Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904. | | | | Fidessa | | Sonnet XLVIII. “Murder! O murder!” I can cry no longer | | Bartholomew Griffin (d. 1602) |
| | | “MURDER! O murder!” I can cry no longer. | |
| “Murder! O murder!” Is there none to aid me? | |
| Life feeble is in force, Death is much stronger. | |
| Then let me die that shame may not upbraid me, | |
| Nothing is left me now, but shame or death! | 5 |
| I fear She feareth not foul murder’s guilt! | |
| Nor do I fear to lose a servile breath. | |
| I know my blood was given to be spilt, | |
| What is this life, but maze of countless strays? | |
| The enemy of true felicity! | 10 |
| Fitly compared to dreams! to flowers! to plays! | |
| O life! no life to me, but misery! | |
| Of shame or death (if thou must one?), | |
| Make choice of death! and both are gone. | | | | |
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