by Edmund Spenser (1552 - 1599)

Sonetto VII
Language: English 
Fayre eyes, the myrrour of my mazed hart,
  what wondrous vertue is contaynd in you
  the which both lyfe and death forth from you dart
  into the obiect of your mighty view?
For, when ye mildly looke with louely hew,
  then is my soule with life and loue inspired:
  but when ye lowre, or looke on me askew
  then doe I die, as one with lightning fyred.
But since that lyfe is more then death desyred,
  looke euer louely, as becomes you best,
  that your bright beams of my weak eies admyred,
  may kindle liuing fire within my brest.
Such life should be the honor of your light,
  such death the sad ensample of your might.

Confirmed with Amoretti and Epithalamion. Written not long since by Edmunde Spenser, Printed for William Ponsonby. 1595.

Note: here is a version with modernized spelling from Elizabethan Sonnets, ed. by Edward Arber and Thomas Seccombe, From An English Garner, Westminster: Archibald Constable, 1904: 


Fair eyes! the mirror of my mazed heart,
What wondrous virtue is contained in you,
The which both life and death forth from you dart,
Into the object of your mighty view?
For, when ye mildly look with lovely hue,
Then is my soul with life and love inspired:
But when ye lower, or look on me askew,
Then do I die, as one with lightning fired.
But, since that life is more than death desired,
Look ever lovely, as becomes you best;
That your bright beams, of my weak eyes admired,
May kindle living fire within my breast.
  Such life should be the honour of your light,
  Such death the sad ensample of your might.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2022-01-09
Line count: 14
Word count: 116