Poem by Edmund Spenser

Amoretti 11. Dayly when I do seeke and sew for peace

Dayly when I do seeke and sew for peace,
And hostages doe offer for my truth,
She, cruell warriour, doth her selfe addresse
To battell, and the weary war renew’th;
Ne wilbe moov’d, with reason or with rewth*,
To graunt small respit to my restlesse toile;
But greedily her fell intent poursewth,
Of my poore life to make unpittied spoile.
Yet my poore life, all sorrowes to assoyle,
I would her yield, her wrath to pacify;
But then she seeks, with torment and turmoyle,
To force me live, and will not let me dy.
  All paine hath end, and every war hath peace;
  But mine, no price nor prayer may surcease.

[* Rewth, ruth, pity.] 

1. Amoretti 46. When my abodes prefixed time is spent
2. Amoretti 63. After long stormes and tempests sad assay
3. Amoretti 59. Thrise happie she that is so well assured
4. Amoretti 43. Shall I then silent be, or shall I speake?
5. Amoretti 49. Fayre Cruell! why are ye so fierce and cruell?

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