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Home  »  Elizabethan Sonnets  »  Sonnet XXII. It was of love, ungentle gentle boy!

Seccombe and Arber, comps. Elizabethan Sonnets. 1904.

Fidessa

Sonnet XXII. It was of love, ungentle gentle boy!

Bartholomew Griffin (d. 1602)

IT was of love, ungentle gentle boy!

That thou didst come and harbour in my breast;

Not of intent my body to destroy,

And have my soul, with restless cares opprest.

But sith thy love doth turn unto my pain,

Return to Greece, sweet lad! where thou wast born.

Leave me alone my griefs to entertain!

If thou forsake me, I am less forlorn;

Although alone, yet shall I find more ease.

Then see thou hie thee hence, or I will chase thee!

Men highly wrongèd, care not to displease!

My fortune hangs on thee! Thou dost disgrace me!

Yet, at thy farewell, play a friendly part;

To make amends, fly to FIDESSA’s heart!