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Sonnet 46: Mine Eye And Heart Are At A Mortal War, By: William Shakespeare

October 12, 2026 by Editors

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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 side this title is impannelled
A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart;
And by their verdict is determined
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.

Read all of William Shakespeare's poems · About William Shakespeare

More by William Shakespeare

  • Sonnet 47: Betwixt Mine Eye And Heart A League Is Took
  • Sonnet 48: How Careful Was I When I Took My Way
  • Sonnet 49: Against That Time, If Ever That Time Come
  • Sonnet 50: How Heavy Do I Journey On The Way
  • Sonnet 51: Thus Can My Love Excuse The Slow Offence

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