Synopsis:

In this first of another pair of sonnets (perhaps a witty thank-you for the gift of a miniature portrait), the poet’s eyes and his heart are in a bitter dispute about which has the legal right to the beloved’s picture. The case is brought before a jury made up of the poet’s thoughts. This jury determines that the eyes have the right to the picture, since it is the beloved’s outer image; the heart, though, has the right to the beloved’s love.

 
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,
4My 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,
8And says in him ⌜thy⌝ fair appearance lies.
To ⌜’cide⌝ this title is impanelèd
A quest of thoughts, all tenants to the heart,
And by their verdict is determinèd
12The clear eyes’ moiety and the dear heart’s part,
 As thus: mine eyes’ due is ⌜thy⌝ outward part,
 And my heart’s right, ⌜thy⌝ inward love of heart.

---