Giles Fletcher the Elder (Джайлз Флетчер Старший)

Licia Sonnets 44

Cruel fair love, I justly do complain
Of too much rigor and thy heart unkind,
That for mine eyes thou hast my body slain,
And would not grant that I should favour find.
I looked, fair love, and you my love looked fair,
I sighed for love and you for sport did smile.
Your smiles were such as did perfume the air,
And this perfuméd did my heart beguile.
Thus I confess the fault was in mine eyes,
Begun with sighs and ended with a flame.
I for your love did all the world despise,
And in these poems honored have your name.
Then let your love so with my fault dispense,
That all my parts feel not mine eyes' offense.

Giles Fletcher the Elder’s other poems:

  1. Licia Sonnets 18
  2. Licia Sonnets 20
  3. Licia Sonnets 13
  4. Licia Sonnets 5
  5. Licia Sonnets 41




To the dedicated English version of this website