| Sir Walter Raleigh (1554?–1618). Poems. 1892. | | | | II. | | The Excuse, written by Sir Walter Raleigh in his younger years |
| | | CALLING to mind, my eyes went long about | |
| To cause my heart for to forsake my breast, | |
| All in a rage I sought to pull them out, | |
| As who had been such traitors to my rest: | |
| What could they say to win again my grace?— | 5 |
| Forsooth, that they had seen my mistress’ face. | |
| |
| Another time, my heart I called to mind,— | |
| Thinking that he this woe on me had brought, | |
| Because that he to love his force resigned, | |
| When of such wars my fancy never thought: | 10 |
| What could he say when I would him have slain?— | |
| That he was hers, and had forgone my chain. | |
| |
| At last, when I perceived both eyes and heart | |
| Excuse themselves, as guiltless of my ill, | |
| I found myself the cause of all my smart, | 15 |
| And told myself that I myself would kill: | |
| Yet when I saw myself to you was true, | |
| I loved myself, because myself loved you. | | | | |
|
|
