Sonnet XLIX. Diana and her nimphs in siluane brooke

Thomas Watson (1555–1592)

DIANA and her nimphs in siluane brooke,

Did wash themselues in secret farre apart:

But bold Acteon dard on them to looke,

For which faire Phœbe turnd him to a Hart.

His hounds vnweeting of his sodaine change,

Did hale and pull him downe with open crie:

He then repenting that he so did range,

Would speake but could not, so did sigh and die.

But my Diana fairer and more cruel,

Bereft me of my hart and in disdaine:

Hath turnd it out to feede on fancies fuel,

And liue in bondage and eternal paine.

So hartles doe I liue yet cannot die,

Desire the dog, doth chase it to and fro:

Vnto her brest for succour it doth flie,

If shee debarre it whither shall it go.

Now liues my hart in danger to be slaine,

Vnlesse her hart my hart wil entertaine.