'yet did i not, as some my equals did, demand of him, nor beingdesired yielded; finding myself in honour so forbid, with safest distance imine honour shielded. experience for me many bulwarks builded ofproofs new-bleeding, which remained the foil of this false jewel, and hisamorous spoil.
'but ah, who ever shunned by precedent the destined ill she mustherself assay? or forced examples, 'gainst her own content, to put the by-past perils in her way? counsel may stop awhile what will not stay; forwhen we rage, advice is often seen by blunting us to make our wills morekeen.
'nor gives it satisfaction to our blood that we must curb it uponothers' proof, to be forbod the sweets that seems so good for fear ofharms that preach in our behoof. o appetite, from judgement stand aloof!
the one a palate hath that needs will taste, though reason weep, and cryit is thy last.
'for further i could say this man's untrue, and knew the patterns ofhis foul beguiling; heard where his plants in others' orchards grew; sawhow deceits were gilded in his smiling; knew vows were ever brokers todefiling; thought characters and words merely but art, and bastards of hisfoul adulterate heart.
'and long upon these terms i held my city, till thus he 'gan besiegeme: "gentle maid, have of my suffering youth some feeling pity, and benot of my holy vows afraid. that's to ye sworn to none was ever said; forfeasts of love i have been called unto, till now did ne'er invite nor neverwoo.
'"all my offences that abroad you see are errors of the blood, none ofthe mind; love made them not; with acture they may be, where neitherparty is nor true nor kind. they sought their shame that so their shame didfind; and so much less of shame in me remains by how much of me theirreproach contains.
'"among the many that mine eyes have seen, not one whose flamemy heart so much as warmed, or my affection put to th' smallest teen, orany of my leisures ever charmed. harm have i done to them, but ne'er washarmed; kept hearts in liveries, but mine own was free, and reigned commanding in his monarchy.
'"look here what tributes wounded fancies sent me, of paled pearlsand rubies red as blood; figuring that they their passions likewise lent meof grief and blushes, aptly understood in bloodless white and theencrimsoned mood- effects of terror and dear modesty, encamped inhearts, but fighting outwardly.
'"and, lo, behold these talents of their hair, with twisted metalamorously empleached, i have receiv'd from many a several fair, theirkind acceptance weepingly beseeched, with the annexions of fair gemsenriched, and deep-brained sonnets that did amplify each stone's dearnature, worth, and quality.
'"the diamond? why, 'twas beautiful and hard, whereto his invisedproperties did tend; the deep-green em'rald, in whose fresh regard weaksights their sickly radiance do amend; the heaven-hued sapphire and theopal blend with objects manifold; each several stone, with wit wellblazoned, smiled, or made some moan.
'"lo, all these trophies of affections hot, of pensived and subdueddesires the tender, nature hath charged me that i hoard them not, but yieldthem up where i myself must render- that is, to you, my origin and ender;for these, of force, must your oblations be, since i their altar, youenpatron me.
'"o then advance of yours that phraseless hand whose white weighsdown the airy scale of praise; take all these similes to your own command,hallowed with sighs that burning lungs did raise; what me your ministerfor you obeys works under you; and to your audit comes their distractparcels in combined sums.
'"lo, this device was sent me from a nun, or sister sanctified, ofholiest note, which late her noble suit in court did shun, whose raresthavings made the blossoms dote; for she was sought by spirits of richestcoat, but kept cold distance, and did thence remove to spend her living ineternal love.
'"but, o my sweet, what labour is't to leave the thing we have not,mast'ring what not strives, playing the place which did no form receive,playing patient sports in unconstrained gyves! she that her fame so to herself contrives, the scars of battle scapeth by the flight, and makes herabsence valiant, not her might.
'"o pardon me in that my boast is true! the accident which broughtme to her eye upon the moment did her force subdue, and now she wouldthe caged cloister fly. religious love put out religion's eye. not to betempted, would she be immured, and now to tempt all liberty procured.
'"how mighty then you are, o hear me tell! the broken bosoms thatto me belong have emptied all their fountains in my well, and mine i pouryour ocean all among. i strong o'er them, and you o'er me being strong,must for your victory us all congest, as compound love to physic yourcold breast.
'"my parts had pow'r to charm a sacred nun, who, disciplined, ay,dieted in grace, believed her eyes when they t'assail begun, all vows andconsecrations giving place, o most potential love, vow, bond, nor space,in thee hath neither sting, knot, nor confine, for thou art all, and all thingselse are thine.
'"when thou impressest, what are precepts worth of stale example?
