Open Source Shakespeare

Sonnets

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Act I, Scene 46

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  • Shakespeare. Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war
    How to divide the conquest of thy sight;
    Mine eye my heart thy picture's sight would bar,
    My heart mine eye the freedom of that right.
    My heart doth plead that thou in him dost lie— 635
    A closet never pierced with crystal eyes—
    But the defendant doth that plea deny
    And says in him thy fair appearance lies.
    To 'cide this title is impanneled
    A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart, 640
    And by their verdict is determined
    The clear eye's moiety and the dear heart's part:
    As thus; mine eye's due is thy outward part,
    And my heart's right thy inward love of heart.