| |
| IN quiet silence of the shady night, | |
| All places free from noise of men and dogs, | |
| When PHŒBE, carried in her chariot bright, | |
| Had cleared the misty vapours, and night fogs: | |
| Then (when no care the quiet shepherd clogs, | 5 |
| Having his flock safe foddered in the fold) | |
| A lively Vision, to my Fancy’s sight | |
| Appeared; which, methought, wake I did behold. | |
| A fiery boy, outmatching the moonlight, | |
| Who, softly whispering in mine ear, had told | 10 |
| “There, thou, thy fair PARTHENOPHE may see!” | |
| I quickly turning, in a hebene bed | |
| With sable covering, and black curtains spread | |
| With many little LOVES in black, by thee! | |
| Thee! thee, PARTHENOPHE! left almost dead! | 15 |
| Pale cold with fear I did behold. Ay me! | |
| Ah me! left almost senseless in my bed, | |
| My groans perceived by those which near me lay; | |
| By them, with much ado recovered. | |
| Which fearful vision so did me affray | 20 |
| That, in a fury set beside my wit, | |
| Sick as before, methought, I saw thee yet | |
| VENUS, thy face, there covered with a veil; | |
| (Mine heart with horror chills, to think on it!) | |
| The Graces kissed thy lips, and went away. | 25 |
| Then I, with furious raging, did assail | |
| To kiss thee! lest thou should depart before! | |
| And then (in sight of those, which there did stand), | |
| Thinking that I should never see thee more, | |
| Mistaking thee, I kissed a firebrand! | 30 |
| Burnt with the fire, my senses (which did fail) | |
| Freshly recalled into their wits again; | |
| I found it was a dream! But, Sweet! expound it! | |
| For that strange dream, with tears renews my pain; | |
| And I shall never rest, till I have found it. | 35 |
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