sight, as does that eye
    Within whose bright black orb Love’s Deity
    Sharpens each dart, and tips with gold its head. 
    Enthroned in radiance there he sits, not blind,
    Quiver’d, and naked, or by shame just veil’d,
    A live, not fabled boy, with changeful wing;
    Thence unto me he lends instruction kind,
    And arts of verse from meaner bards conceal’d,
    Thus am I taught whate’er of love I write or sing.

    NOTT.

      Ne’er from the black and tempest-troubled brine
    The weary mariner fair haven sought,
    As shelter I from the dark restless thought
    Whereto hot wishes spur me and incline: 
    Nor mortal vision ever light divine
    Dazzled, as mine, in their rare splendour caught
    Those matchless orbs, with pride and passion fraught,
    Where Love aye haunts his darts to gild and fine. 
    Him, blind no more, but quiver’d, there I view,
    Naked, except so far as shame conceals,
    A winged boy—­no fable—­quick and true. 
    What few perceive he thence to me reveals;
    So read I clearly in her eyes’ dear light
    Whate’er of love I speak, whate’er I write.

    MACGREGOR.

SONNET CXIX.

Questa umil fera, un cor di tigre o d’ orsa.

HE PRAYS HER EITHER TO WELCOME OR DISMISS HIM AT ONCE.

      Fiercer than tiger, savager than bear,
    In human guise an angel form appears,
    Who between fear and hope, from smiles to tears
    So tortures me that doubt becomes despair. 
    Ere long if she nor welcomes me, nor frees,
    But, as her wont, between the two retains,
    By the sweet poison circling through my veins,
    My life, O Love! will soon be on its lees. 
    No longer can my virtue, worn and frail
    With such severe vicissitudes, contend,
    At once which burn and freeze, make red and pale: 
    By flight it hopes at length its grief to end,
    As one who, hourly failing, feels death nigh: 
    Powerless he is indeed who cannot even die!

    MACGREGOR.

SONNET CXX.

Ite, caldi sospiri, al freddo core.

HE IMPLORES MERCY OR DEATH.

      Go, my warm sighs, go to that frozen breast,
    Burst the firm ice, that charity denies;
    And, if a mortal prayer can reach the skies,
    Let death or pity give my sorrows rest! 
    Go, softest thoughts!  Be all you know express’d
    Of that unnoticed by her lovely eyes,
    Though fate and cruelty against me rise,
    Error at least and hope shall be repress’d. 
    Tell her, though fully you can never tell,
    That, while her days calm and serenely flow,
    In darkness and anxiety I dwell;
    Love guides your flight, my thoughts securely go,
    Fortune may change, and all may yet be well;
    If my sun’s aspect not deceives my woe.