Sonnet LIV. Unhappy pen! and ill accepted papers!

Samuel Daniel (1562–1619)

UNHAPPY pen! and ill accepted papers!

That intimate, in vain, my chaste desires:

My chaste desires, the ever-burning tapers,

Enkindled by her eyes’ celestial fires.

Celestial fires! and unrespecting powers,

That deign not view the glory of your might!

In humble lines, the work of careful hours,

The sacrifice I offer to her sight.

But since she scorns her own; this rests for me.

I’ll moan, myself; and hide the wrong I have:

And so content me, that her frowns should be

To m’infant style, the cradle and the grave.

What though myself no honour get thereby;

Each birds sings to herself, and so will I!