1. The sweetest love is what suspicions spice,
Whether lovers talk of it or keep it nice,

2. Love lures the enamored with its charm, so hark!
Excuses but conceal the wounds they mark,

3. And one estranged though slanderers declaimed,
They taught him I was guilty, yet they lied.

4. They sought to part us but we still held fast,
They gained no good thereby, we took no blast.

5. Our severance grieved them not, nor union pained,
Asunder thrust they us yet nothing gained.

6. By God estranger tell what cause or sense,
Moves you except what liars dreamt or guessed?

7. By Him whose hand the tent of night made black
And split the morn upon the lances back

8. And to the waters said "Stand still" - while yet
His hand the fire to fierce extremes abet.

9. Did you say to the phantom "Visit me no more"
Or has your gentleness sufficed therefore?

10. Or to the night "Be long" and long it was
Obedient, until the morn seemed dusky cause.

11. My Lord, what I was charged with falsely said
For lies not truth move them your name to dread

12. I care not for their talk so you but know
That you're my judge, and clemency my plea.

13. With me they find a patient ear and mute
Which tears besiege, to all their talk gone deaf.

14. If they're jealous, why should I their blame renew?
One lofty as yourself they seldom view.

15. You were to me a green oasis fair,
But to their jaundiced sight you are not there

16. So they did lie and fabricate, would they
Had been blind when I saw the light you display.

17. Where are those tricksters now, and long before
My heart enslaved me to your beauty's core?

18. Mine is the right to dignified patience, I
Have made no innovations heresy.

19. My witness told me of their lies, while you
Are judge so judge, your wisdom tells you true.

20. You moon whom beauty's stolen subtlety
Our minds enthralls, commanding mastery,

21. Were all your virtues in one form combined
The sun beside your light would dimmed find.

22. You walk in beauty and you make the branches weep,
You smile and eclipse the moon fallen asleep.

23. Blushing cheek, lips, eyelash, mouth also,
Shame the zephyr which comes breathing low.