Page:The New Life (Rossetti 1899) Siddal ed.djvu/156

150 to shame and evil: from which things it will appear that they were fitly guerdoned for their unsteadfastness. Wherefore I, (wishing that mine abandonment of all such evil desires and vain temptations should be certified and made manifest, beyond all doubts which might have been suggested by the rhymes aforewritten) proposed to write a sonnet wherein I should express this purport. And I then wrote, "Woe's me!"

''I said, "Woe's me!" because I was ashamed of the trifling of mine eyes. This sonnet I do not divide, since its purport is manifest enough.''

me! by dint of all these sighs that come

Forth of my heart, its endless grief to prove,

Mine eyes are conquered, so that even to move

Their lids for greeting is grown troublesome.

They wept so long that now they are grief's home,

And count their tears all laughter far above: