SAINT PETERS Complaynt - by Robert Southwell: 325-360/792

In time, o Lord, thine eyes with mine did meete, [325]
In them I read the ruines of my fall:
Their cheering raies, that made misfortune sweet,
Into my guilty thoughts pourd floods of gall,
Their heavenly looks, that blest where they beheld,
Darts of disdain, and angry checks did yeeld. [330]

O sacred eyes, the springs of living light,
The earthly heavens, where angels joy to dwell,
How could you deigne to view my deathfull plight,
Or let your heavenly beames look on my hell?
But those unspotted eyes encountred mine, [335]
As spotless Sunne doth on the dounghill shine.

Sweet volumes, stoard with learning fit for Saints,
Where blissfull quires imparadize their minds,
Wherein eternall studie never faints,
Still finding all, yet seeking all it findes. [340]
How endlesse is your laborinth of blisse,
Where to be lost the sweetest finding is?

Ah wretch how oft have I sweet lessons read,
In those deare eyes, the registers of truth?
How oft have I my hungrie wishes fed, [345]
And in their happy joyes redress'd my ruth?
Ah that they now are Heralds of disdaine:
That erst were ever pittiers of my paine.

You flames divine, that sparkle out your heats,
And kindle pleasing fires in mortall hearts: [350]
You nectar'd Aumbryes of soul feeding meats,
You graceful quivers of loves dearest darts:
You did vouchsafe to warme, to wound, to feast:
My cold, my stony, my now famishde breast.

The matchles eyes, match'd only each by other, [355]
Were pleasd on my ill matched eyes to glaunce:
The eye of liquid pearle, the purest mother,
Broch'd teares in mine to weepe for my mischance;
The cabinets of grace unlockt their treasure,
And did to my misdeed their mercies measure. [360]

Notes

[l338] imparadize: imparadise - To place in, or as in, Paradise; to bring into a state of rapture or supreme happiness; to transport, ravish.

[l346] ruth:  Contrition, repentance; remorse. Now rare.

[l351] Aumbryes: aumbry - A cupboard, locker, or recess in the wall of a church or church building, to hold books, communion vessels, vestments, etc.

[l358] broch'd: to broach - To pierce (a cask, etc.) so as to draw the liquor; to tap. and of a vein, blood.