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Beauty hath nought to do with such foul fiends： Come not within his
danger by thy will； They that thrive well take counsel of their friends。
When thou didst name the boar； not to dissemble； I fear'd thy fortune； and
my joints did tremble。
'Didst thou not mark my face？ was it not white？ Saw'st thou not signs
of fear lurk in mine eye？
Grew I not faint？ And fell I not downright？ Within my bosom；
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whereon thou dost lie； My boding heart pants； beats； and takes no rest； But；
like an earthquake； shakes thee on my breast。
'For where Love reigns； disturbing Jealousy
Doth call himself Affection's sentinel； Gives false alarms； suggesteth
mutiny； And in a peaceful hour doth cry 〃Kill； kill！〃
Distempering gentle Love in his desire； As air and water do abate the
fire。
'This sour informer； this bate…breeding spy； This canker that eats up
Love's tender spring；
This carry…tale； dissentious Jealousy； That sometime true news；
sometime false doth bring； Knocks at my heart； and whispers in mine ear
That if I love thee； I thy death should fear：
'And more than so； presenteth to mine eye The picture of an angry…
chafing boar； Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie An image like
thyself； all stain'd with gore；
Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed Doth make them
droop with grief and hang the head。
'What should I do； seeing thee so indeed； That tremble at the
imagination？
The thought of it doth make my faint heart bleed； And fear doth teach
it divination： I prophesy thy death； my living sorrow； If thou encounter
with the boar to…morrow。
'But if thou needs wilt hunt； be rul'd by me； Uncouple at the timorous
flying hare； Or at the fox which lives by subtilty； Or at the roe which no
encounter dare：
Pursue these fearful creatures o'er the downs； And on thy well…
breath'd horse keep with thy hound。
'And when thou hast on foot the purblind hare； Mark the poor wretch；
to overshoot his troubles
How he outruns the winds； and with what care He cranks and crosses
with a thousand doubles： The many musits through the which he goes Are
like a labyrinth to amaze his foes。
'Sometime he runs among a flock of sheep； To make the cunning
hounds mistake their smell； And sometime where earth…delving conies
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keep； To stop the loud pursuers in their yell；
And sometime sorteth with a herd of deer； Danger deviseth shifts； wit
waits on fear：
'For there his smell with others being mingled；
The hot scent…snuffing hounds are driven to doubt； Ceasing their
clamorous cry till they have singled With much ado the cold fault cleanly
out； Then do they spend their mouths： Echo replies； As if another chase
were in the skies。
'By this； poor Wat； far off upon a hill； Stands on his hinder legs with
listening ear； To hearken if his foes pursue him still： Anon their loud
alarums he doth hear；
And now his grief may be compared well To one sore sick that hears
the passing bell。
'Then shalt thou see the dew…bedabbled wretch Turn； and return；
indenting with the way；
Each envious briar his weary legs doth scratch； Each shadow makes
him stop； each murmur stay： For misery is trodden on by many； And being
low never reliev'd by any。
'Lie quietly； and hear a little more； Nay； do not struggle； for thou shalt
not rise： To make thee hate the hunting of the boar； Unlike myself thou
hear'st me moralize；
Applying this to that； and so to so； For love can comment upon every
woe。
'Where did I leave？' 'No matter where；' quoth he 'Leave me； and then
the story aptly ends：
The night is spent；' 'Why； what of that？' quoth she。 'I am；' quoth he；
'expected of my friends； And now 'tis dark； and going I shall fall。' 'In
night；' quoth she； 'desire sees best of all。'
But if thou fall； O！ then imagine this； The earth； in love with thee； thy
footing trips； And all is but to rob thee of a kiss。
Rich preys make true men thieves； so do thy lips Make modest Dian
cloudy and forlorn； Lest she should steal a kiss and die forsworn。
'Now of this dark night I perceive the reason： Cynthia for shame
obscures her silver shine
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Till forging Nature be condemn'd of treason； For stealing moulds
from heaven that were divine； Wherein she fram'd thee in high heaven's
despite； To shame the sun by day and her by night。
'And therefore hath she brib'd the Destinies； To cross the curious
workmanship of nature To mingle beauty with infirmities； And pure
perfection with impure defeature；
Making it subject to the tyranny Of mad mischances and much
misery；
'As burning fevers； agues pale and faint； Life…poisoning pestilence and
frenzies wood；
The marrow…eating sickness； whose attains Disorder breeds by
heating of the blood； Surfeits； imposthumes； grief； and damn'd despair；
Swear nature's death for framing thee so fair。
'And not the least of all these maladies But in one minute's fight brings
beauty under： Both favour； savour hue； and qualities； Whereat the
impartial gazer late did wonder；
Are on the sudden wasted； thaw'd and done； As mountain…snow melts
with the mid…day sun。
'Therefore； despite of fruitless chastity； Love…lacking vestals and self…
loving nuns；
That on the earth would breed a scarcity And barren dearth of
daughters and of sons； Be prodigal： the lamp that burns by night Dries up
his oil to lend the world his light。
'What is thy body but a swallowing grave； Seeming to bury that
posterity Which by the rights of time thou needs must have； If thou
destroy them not in dark obscurity？
If so； the world will hold thee in disdain； Sith in thy pride so fair a
hope is slain。
'So in thyself thyself art made away； A mischief worse than civil
home…bred strife；
Or theirs whose desperate hands themselves do slay； Or butcher…sire
that reeves his son of life。 Foul…cankering rust the hidden treasure frets；
But gold that's put to use more gold begets。'
'Nay then；' quoth Adon； 'you will fall again Into your idle over…handled
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theme； The kiss I gave you is bestow'd in vain； And all in vain you strive
against the stream；
For by this black…fac'd night； desire's foul nurse； Your treatise makes
me like you worse and worse。
'If love have lent you twenty thousand tongues； And every tongue
more moving than your own；
Bewitching like the wanton mermaid's songs； Yet from mine ear the
tempting tune is blown； For know； my heart stands armed in mine ear； And
will not let a false sound enter there；
'Lest the deceiving harmony should run Into the quiet closure of my
breast； And then my little heart were quite undone； In his bedchamber to
be barr'd of rest。
No； lady； no； my heart longs not to groan； But soundly sleeps； while
now it sleeps alone。
'What have you urg'd that I cannot reprove？ The path is smooth that
leadeth on to danger；
I hate not love； but your device in love That lends embracements unto
every stranger。 You do it for increase： O strange excuse！ When reason is
the bawd to lust's abuse。
'Call it not； love； for Love to heaven is fled； Since sweating Lust on
earth usurp'd his name； Under whose simple semblance he hath fed Upon
fresh beauty； blotting it with blame；
Which the hot tyrant stains and soon bereaves； As caterpillars do the
tender leaves。
'Love comforteth like sunshine after rain； But Lust's effect is tempest
after sun；
Love's gentle spring doth always fresh remain； Lust's winter comes
ere summer half be done。 Love surfeits not； Lust like a glutton dies； Love
is all truth； Lust full of forged lies。
'More I could tell； but more I dare not say； The text is old； the orator
too green。 Therefore； in sadness； now