Thomas Aquinas

Second is the compassion of the prophet, due to the sting from interior grief: "My eyes cause me grief at the fate of all the maidens of my city." That is: "my eyes," seeing the depredation upon the earth, "cause me grief." That is, spoiling the earth from delight. Or, lamenting exteriorly, the prophet gives himself up to a total grief within his own heart.

Commentary on Lamentations ↗