Sonnet VI. Fair is my love, and cruel as she’s fair

Samuel Daniel (1562–1619)

FAIR is my love, and cruel as she’s fair:

Her brow shades frowns, although her eyes are sunny;

Her smiles are lightening, though her pride despair;

And her disdains are gall, her favours honey.

A modest maid, decked with a blush of honour,

Whose feet do tread green paths of youth and love;

The wonder of all eyes that look upon her:

Sacred on earth, designed a saint above,

Chastity and Beauty, which were deadly foes,

Live reconcilèd friends within her brow:

And had she Pity, to conjoin with those;

Then who had heard the plaints I utter now?

O had she not been fair, and thus unkind;

My Muse had slept, and none had known my mind!