Alas ’tis true, I have gone here and there, And made myself a motley to the view, Gored mine own thoughts, sold cheap what is most dear, Made old offenses of affections new. 5 Most true it is that I have looked on truth Askance and strangely; but by all above, These blenches gave my heart another youth, And worse essays proved thee my best of love. Now all is done, save what shall have no end; 10 Mine appetite I never more will grind On newer proof, to try an older friend, A god in love, to whom I am confined. Then give me welcome, next my heav'n the best, Ev'n to thy pure and most most loving breast.
Alas it is true, I have gone here and there,
And made myself a fool in front of everyone,
Cut up my own thoughts, sold cheaply what is more precious,
Repeated old offenses because of new passions.
It is true that I have treated fidelity
In an unfriendly way; but despite this,
These sideways glances rejuvenated my affections,
And bad experiences proved that you are the best.
Now all that is done, except for what will last forever;
I will no long whet my appetite
With new lovers, to test an older friend,
Who is a god of love, and to whom I belong.
Then please, welcome me into what is next to heaven:
Your pure and most loving heart.
Suzy Kim is a graduate student studying Victorian literature at Brown University. She studied English and Psychology at University of Pennsylvania, and some of her creative work can be found in the upcoming volume of The Graphic Canon: Tales of Crime and Mystery Vol. 1. She is from Seoul, and currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island.