Shall I look to ease my grief?

Shall I look to ease my grief?

No, my sight is lost with eying:

Shall I speak and beg relief?

No, my voice is hoarse with crying:

What remains but only dying?

Love and I of late did part,

But the boy, my peace envying,

Like a Parthian threw his dart

Backward, and did wound me flying:

What remains but only dying?

She whom then I lookèd on,

My remembrance beautifying,

Stays with me though I am gone,

Gone and at her mercy lying:

What remains but only dying?

Shall I try her thoughts and write?

No I have no means of trying:

If I should, yet at first sight

She would answer with denying:

What remains but only dying?

Thus my vital breath doth waste,

And, my blood with sorrow drying,

Sighs and tears make life to last

For a while, their place supplying:

What remains but only dying?