Elegy X. In quiet silence of the shady night

Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609)

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,

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

“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!

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

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.

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!

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.