E C Esquire

1500-1600 / England

Sonnet Xiii

That I did loue and once was lou'd of thee,
Witnesse the fauours that I haue receiued:
That golden ring, pledge of thy constancie:
That bracelet, that my libertie bereaued:
Those gloues, that once adorn'd thy lillie hands:
That handkercher, whose maze inthral'd me so:
Those thousand gifts, that like a thousand bands
Bound both my heart and soule to weale and woe.
All which I weare, and wearing them sigh forth
You instancies of her true loyaltie:
I doe not keepe you for your soueraigne worth,
But for her sake that sent you vnto me:
Tis she, not you, that doth compell my eyes,
My lifes sole light, my hearts sole paradice.
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