Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | III. Love’s Beginnings | | Sonnet upon a Stolen Kiss | | George Wither (1588–1667) |
| | | NOW gentle sleep hath closèd up those eyes | |
| Which, waking, kept my boldest thoughts in awe; | |
| And free access unto that sweet lip lies, | |
| From whence I long the rosy breath to draw. | |
| Methinks no wrong it were, if I should steal | 5 |
| From those two melting rubies one poor kiss; | |
| None sees the theft that would the theft reveal, | |
| Nor rob I her of aught what she can miss: | |
| Nay, should I twenty kisses take away, | |
| There would be little sign I would do so; | 10 |
| Why then should I this robbery delay? | |
| O, she may awake, and therewith angry grow! | |
| Well, if she do, I ’ll back restore that one, | |
| And twenty hundred thousand more for loan. | | | | |
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