Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Thomas Watson Hekatompathia 1592: Sonnet X
Myne eyes dye first, which last enjoyed life,
Not hurt by bleared eies, but hurt with light
Of such a blazing starre as kindleth strife
Within my brest as well by day as night:
And yet no poysned Cockatrice lurk't there,
Her vertuous beames dissuade such foolish feare.
Besides, I liue as yet; though blinded nowe
Like him, that sawe Mineruaes naked side,
And lost his sight (poore soule) not knowing howe;
Or like to him, whome euill chance betide,
In straying farre to light upon that place,
Where midst a fount he founde Dianaes grace.
But he alone, who Polyphemus hight,
Trewe patterne was of me and all my woe,
Of all the rest that euer lost their sight:
For being blinde, yet loue possest him so,
That he each how'r on ev'ry dale and hill
Sung songes of loue to Galatæa still.
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