Sonnet Xlvi

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.
     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.
     To 'cide this title is impanneled
     A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart,
     And by their verdict is determined
     The clear eye's moiety and the dear heart's part:
     As thus; mine eye's due is thy outward part,
     And my heart's right thy inward love of heart.

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