My heart would never have endured this needless sorrow; alas, it is a pity that it did not turn unfaithful.

In this beautifully ironic couplet, the poet turns the classical idea of love on its head by lamenting his own steadfast loyalty. Faithful love is traditionally celebrated as the lover's highest virtue, yet here it feels like a heavy curse that has brought nothing but unreciprocated, pointless grief. With a bittersweet sigh, he wishes his heart had simply learned to be unfaithful, so he could have escaped this unnecessary torment.