Sonnet LV. O, no, I dare not! O, I may not speak!

Bartholomew Griffin (d. 1602)

O, NO, I dare not! O, I may not speak!

Yes, yes, I dare! I can! I must! I will!

Then heart, pour forth thy plaints, and do not break!

Let never Fancy, manly courage kill!

Intreat her mildly! (words have pleasing charms,

Of force to move the most obdurate heart)

To take relenting pity of my harms.

And with unfeigned tears to wail my smart!

Is She a stock, a block, a stone, a flint?

Hath She, nor ears to hear, nor eyes to see?

If so, my cries, my prayers, my tears shall stint!

Lord! how can lovers so bewitchèd be!

I took her to be Beauty’s Queen alone;

But now, I see She is a senseless stone!