Mary Wroth

Crown Sonnet - How well poor heart

How well poor heart thou witness canst I love,

How oft my grief hath made thee shed for tears

Drops of thy dearest blood, and how oft fears

Borne testimony of the pains I prove,

 

What torments hast thou suffered while above

Joy thou tortured wert with racks which longing bears.

Pinched with desires which yet but wishing rears

Firm in my faith, in constancy to move,

 

Yet is it said that sure love cannot be

Where so small show of passion is descried,

When thy chief pain is that I must it hide

From all save only one who should it see.

 

For know more passion in my heart doth move

Than in a million that make show they love.