| |
| WHEN youth had led me half the race | |
| That Cupid’s scourge had made me run; | |
| I looked back to mete the place | |
| From whence my weary course begun. | |
| |
| And then I saw how my desire | 5 |
| By guiding ill had lett the way: | |
| Mine eyen, too greedy of their hire, | |
| Had made me lose a better prey. | |
| |
| For when in sighs I spent the day, | |
| And could not cloak my grief with game; | 10 |
| The boiling smoke did still bewray | |
| The present heat of secret flame. | |
| |
| And when salt tears do bain my breast, | |
| Where Love his pleasant trains hath sown; | |
| Her beauty hath the fruits opprest, | 15 |
| Ere that the buds were sprung and blown. | |
| |
| And when mine eyen did still pursue | |
| The flying chase of their request; | |
| Their greedy looks did oft renew | |
| The hidden wound within my breast. | 20 |
| |
| When every look these cheeks might stain, | |
| From deadly pale to glowing red; | |
| By outward signs appeared plain, | |
| To her for help my heart was fled. | |
| |
| But all too late Love learneth me | 25 |
| To paint all kind of colours new; | |
| To blind their eyes that else should see | |
| My speckled cheeks with Cupid’s hue. | |
| |
| And now the covert breast I claim, | |
| That worshipp’d Cupid secretly; | 30 |
| And nourished his sacred flame, | |
| From whence no blazing sparks do fly. | |
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