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 77. Was it a dreame, or did I see it playne?
2. Amoretti 28. The laurel-leafe which you this day doe weare
3. Amoretti 65. The doubt which ye misdeeme, fayre Love, is vaine
4. Amoretti 34. Lyke as a ship, that through the ocean wyde
5. Amoretti 41. Is it her nature, or is it her will

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