Sonnet XV. I stood amazed, and saw my Licia shine

Giles Fletcher (1586?–1623)

I STOOD amazed, and saw my LICIA shine

Fairer than PHŒBUS in his brightest pride;

Set forth in colours by a hand divine,

Where naught was wanting but a soul to guide.

It was a picture that I could descry,

Yet made with art so as it seemed to live;

Surpassing fair, and yet it had no eye:

Whereof my senses could no reason give.

With that the Painter bid me not to muse,

“Her eyes are shut; but I deserve no blame:

For if she saw, in faith, it could not choose

But that the work had wholly been aflame.”

Then burn me, Sweet, with brightness of your eyes;

That, Phœnix-like. from thence I may arise.