Sonnet 46

Love from Afar

  1. 1 Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war,
  2. 2 How to divide the conquest of thy sight;
  3. 3 Mine eye my heart thy picture's sight would bar,
  4. 4 My heart mine eye the freedom of that right.
  5. 5 My heart doth plead that thou in him dost lie,—
  6. 6 A closet never pierc'd with crystal eyes—
  7. 7 But the defendant doth that plea deny,
  8. 8 And says in him thy fair appearance lies.
  9. 9 To side this title is impannelled
  10. 10 A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart;
  11. 11 And by their verdict is determined
  12. 12 The clear eye's moiety, and the dear heart's part:
  13. 13 As thus; mine eye's due is thy outward part,
  14. 14 And my heart's right, thy inward love of heart.