Samuel Daniel

Here you will find the Poem Sonnet XXVII: Oft and In Vain of poet Samuel Daniel

Sonnet XXVII: Oft and In Vain

Oft and in vain my rebel thoughts have ventur'd 
To stop the passage of my vanquisht heart, 
And shut those ways my friendly foe first enter'd, 
Hoping thereby to free my better part. 
And whilst I guard these windows of this fort 
Where my heart's thief to vex me made her choice 
And thither all my forces do transport, 
Another passage opens at her voice. 
Her voice betrays me to her hand and eye, 
My freedom's tyrants conquering all by art; 
But, ah, what glory can she get thereby, 
With three such powers to plague one silly heart? 
Yet my soul's sovereign, since I must resign, 
Reign in my thoughts; my love and life are thine.