But, in your choice of loves, this well advize, 190
That likest to your selves ye them select, [thize,
The which your forms' first sourse may sympa-
And with like beauties parts be inly deckt;
For if you loosely love, without respect,
It is not love, but a discordant warre,
Whose unlike parts amongst themselves do iarre.
For love is a celestiall harmonie
Of likely harts composd of starres concent,
Which ioyne together in sweete sympathie,
To work each others ioy and true content,
Which they have harbour'd since their first descent
Out of their heavenly bowres, where they did søe
And know ech other here belov'd to bee.
Then wrong it were that any other twaine
Should in Loves gentle band combyned bee 205
But those whom Heaven did at first ordaine,
And made out of one mould the more t' agree;
For all, that like the beautie which they see,
Straight do not love; for Love is not so light
As streight to burne at first beholders sight. 210
But they, which love indeed, looke otherwise,
With pure regard and spotlesse true intent,
Drawing out of the obiect of their eyes
A more refyned form, which they present
Unto their mind, voide of all blemishment; 215
Which it reducing to her first perfection,
Beholdeth free from fleshes frayle infection.
And then conforming it unto the light,
Which in it selfe it hath remaining still,
Of that first sunne, yet sparckling in his sight, 220
Thereof he fashions in his higher skill
An heavenly beautie to his fancies will;
And, it embracing in his mind entyre,
The mirrour of his owne thought doth admyre.
Which seeing now so inly faire to be,
As outward it appeareth to the eye,
And with his spirits proportion to agree,
He thereon fixeth all his fantasie,
And fully setteth his felicitie;
Counting it fairer then it is indeede,
And yet indeede her fairnesse doth exceede.
For lovers eyes more sharply sighted bee
Then other mens, and in deare loves delight
See more than any other eyes can see,
Through mutuall receipt of beamës bright, 235
Which carrie privie message to the spright,
And to their eyes that inmost faire display,
As plaine as light discovers dawning day.
Therein they see, through amorous eye-glaunces,
Armies of Loves still flying too and fro,
Which dart at them their little fierie launces;
Whom having wounded, back againe they go,
Carrying compassion to their lovely foe;
Who, seeing her faire eyes so sharp effect,
Cures all their sorrowes with one sweeteaspect. 215
In which how many wonders doe they reede
To their conceipt, that others never see! [feede,
Now of her smiles, with which their soules they
Like gods with nectar in their bankets free;
Now of her lookes, which like to cordials bee; 250
But when her words embassade forth she sends,
Lord! how sweete musicke that unto them lends!
Sometimes upon her forhead they behold
A thousand graces masking in delight;
Sometimes within her eye-lids they unfold
Ten thousand sweet belgards, which to their sight
Doe seeme like twinckling starres in frostie night;
But on her lips, like rosy buds in May,
So many millions of chaste Pleasures play.
All those, O Cytherea! and thousands more 260
Thy handmaides be, which do on thee attend,
To deck thy beautie with their dainties store,
That may it more to mortall eyes commend,
And make it more admyrd of foe and frend,
That in mens harts thou mayst thy throne enstall,
And spred thy lovely kingdome over all.
Then Iö, tryumph! O great Beauties Queene,
Advance the banner of thy conquest hie,
That all this world, the which thy vassels beene, May draw to thee, and with dew fealtie
Adore the powre of thy great majestie,
Singing this Hymne in honour of thy name, Compyld by me, which thy poor liegeman am!
In lieu whereof graunt, O great Soveraine!
That she, whose conquering beauty doth captive
My trembling hart in her eternall chaine, 276
One drop of grace at length will to me give,
That I her bounden thrall by her may live,
And this same life, which first from me she reaved,
May owe to her, of whom I it receaved.
And you, fair Venus dearling, my dear Dread! Fresh flowre of grace, great goddesse of my life, When your faire eyes these fearfull lines shall read, Deigne to let fall one drop of dew reliefe,
That may recure my harts long pyning griefe, 285 And shew what wondrous powre your beauty hath, That can restore a damned wight from death. 287
Love! lift me up upon thy golden wings
From this base world unto thy heavens hight,
Where I may see those admirable things
Which there thou workest by thy soveraine might,
Farre above feeble reach of earthly sight,
That I thereof an heavenly Hymne may sing
Unto the God of Love, high Heavens King.
Many lewd layes (ah! woe is me the more!)
In praise of that mad fit which fooles call Love,
I have in th' heat of youth made heretofore,
That in light wits did loose affection move;
But all those follies now I do reprove,
And turned have the tenor of my string,
The heavenly prayses of true Love to sing.
And ye that wont with greedy vaine desire
To reade my fault, and, wondring at my flame,
To warme your selves at my wide sparckling fire,
Sith now that heat is quenched, quench my blame,
And in her ashes shrowd my dying shame;
For who my passed follies now pursewes,
Beginnes his own, and my old fault renewes.
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