Sonnet 46

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 impannelèd

A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart,

And by their verdict is determinèd

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.

My eyes and my heart want each other to hide

Now that you’ve come into view.

My eyes would cast my heart to the side;

My heart would deny my eyes rights to see you.

My heart took the stance that you belong inside,

Where no eyes can testify to you.

My eyes say my heart’s a perjurer, lied,

And beauty has got to shine through.

To settle the case, a panel of thoughts

Was sequestered: from the eyes’ detectives but also

Witnesses for the heart. And thanks to them, it’s

Quite uncontested what the heart sees and the eyes know:

And that’s that my eyes have rights they’re worthy of.

And that’s that my heart is entitled to your love.