Sonnet 46 by William Shakespeare
Mine eye and heart are at a mortal war
How to divide the conquest of thy sight.
Mine eye my heart thy picture’s sight would bar,
My heart mine eye the freedom of that right. 4
My heart doth plead that thou in him dost lie,
A closet never pierced with crystal eyes;
But the defendant doth that plea deny,
And says in him thy fair appearance lies. 8
To ‘cide this title is impanelèd
A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart,
And by their verdict is determined
The clear eyes’ moiety and the dear heart’s part, 12
As thus: mine eyes’ due is thy outward part,
And my heart’s right, thy inward love of heart.
