| AS an unperfect actor on the stage | |
| Who with his fear is put beside his part, | |
| Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage, | |
| Whose strength’s abundance weakens his own heart; | |
| So I, for fear of trust, forget to say | 5 |
| The perfect ceremony of love’s rite, | |
| And in mine own love’s strength seem to decay, | |
| O’ercharg’d with burden of mine own love’s might. | |
| O! let my books be then the eloquence | |
| And dumb presagers of my speaking breast, | 10 |
| Who plead for love, and look for recompense, | |
| More than that tongue that more hath more express’d. | |
| O! learn to read what silent love hath writ: | |
| To hear with eyes belongs to love’s fine wit. |