Achilles preassing through the Phrygian glaives,1 Of damned fiends, to get his love retyre; For both through heaven and hell thou makest way, To win them worship which to thee obay. And if by all these perils, and these paynes, He may but purchase lyking in her eye, 235 What heavens of ioy then to himselfe he faynes! 240 Eftsoones2 he wypes quite out of memory Whatever ill before he did aby 3: Had it beene death, yet would he die againe, Yet, when he hath found favour to his will, The fear whereof, O how doth it torment His troubled mynd with more then hellish paine! 245 250 Sights never seene, and thousand shadowes vaine, 255 To breake his sleepe, and waste his ydle braine: 1 Glaives, swords. 2 Eftsoones, immediately. 3 Aby, abide. 4 Nathemore, none the more. The gnawing envie, the hart-fretting feare, Yet is there one more cursed then they all, Through feare of losing his felicitie. the gall, Ah, Gods! that ever ye that monster placed By these, O Love! thou doest thy entrance make There thou them placest in a paradize 260 265 270 275 280 Of Venus dearlings, through her bountie blest; 285 With rose and lillies over them displayd. There with thy daughter Pleasure they doe play Their quiet heads, devoyd of guilty shame, 290 Then her they crowne their goddesse and their queene, And decke with floures thy altars well beseene. Ay me! deare Lord! that ever I might hope, For all the paines and woes that I endure, Then would I sing of thine immortal praise 1 Drad, dread. 295 300 305 AN HYMNE IN HONOUR OF BEAUTIE. AH! whither, Love! wilt thou now carry mee? Thou in me kindlest much more great desyre, 5 And up aloft above my strength doth rayse The wondrous matter of my fire to praise. That as I earst,1 in praise of thine owne name, 10 And, with the brightnesse of her beautie cleare, From whence proceeds such soule-enchanting might. Therto do thou, great Goddesse! Queene of beauty, 16 Doe thou vouchsafe with thy love-kindling light And beautifie this sacred Hymne of thyne: That both to thee, to whom I meane it most, It may so please, that she at length will streame1 After long sorrow and consuming smart. 20 25 WHAT TIME THIS WORLDS GREAT WORKMAISTER did cast To make al things such as we now behold, It seems that he before his eyes had plast 30 A goodly paterne, to whose perfect mould As nought may be amended any wheare. 35 That wondrous paterne, wheresoere it bee, Thereof as every earthly thing partakes Or more or lesse, by influence divine, So it more faire accordingly it makes, 1 Streame, send forth. 2 Deflore, deflower. 40 45 |