Sonnet 11

DAYLY when I do seeke and sew^[1] for peace,

And hostages' doe offer for my truth^[2]:

She cruell warrior, doth her selfe address,

To battell, and the weary war renew'th^[3].

Ne wilbe mooved with reason or with rewth,

To graunt small respit to my restlesse^[4] toile:

But greedily her fell^[5] intent poursewth^[6],

Of my poore life to make unpittied spoile.

Yet my poore life, all sorrowes to assoyle^[7],

I would her yield^[8], her wrath to pacify:

But then she seekes, with torment and turmoyle,

To force me liue, and will not let me dy.

All paine hath end, and euery war hath peace,

But mine no price nor prayer may surcease^[9].

[1] sew:請(qǐng)求。

[2] truth:忠誠(chéng)。戀人像一個(gè)手下敗將，向心儀的女子奉獻(xiàn)人質(zhì)抵押以擔(dān)保協(xié)定或條約。

[3] rewth:同情。

[4] restlesse:不停地。

[5] fell:殘忍的。

[6] poursewth:追求。

[7] assoyle:釋放。

[8] yield:戀人把自己的命交到心儀的女子手上。

[9] surcease:停止；中斷；暫停。