FIDELIA

Monster of men, hate of the heavens, and to the earth a burden, what hath chased Fidelia committed? It is thy spite, Cupid, that having no power to wound my un sported mind, procurest means to mangle my tender bo die, and by violent ̄ ce to gash those sides, that enclose a heart dedicate to virtue: or is it that savage satire, that feeding his sensual appetite upon lust, seeks now to quench it with blood, that being without hope to attain my love, he may with cruelty end my life? Or does Ceres, whose nymph I have been many years, in recompense of my inuiola ble says, reward me with unspeakable torments? Divine Phœbus that pursued Daphne till she was turned to a Bay tree, ceased then to trouble her. I, the gods are pitti full; and Cineras, that with fury followed his daughter Mi retia, till she was changed to a Mirretree, left then to prosecute her; yea parents are natural: Phœbus lamen ted the lose of his friend, Cineras of his child: but both gods, and men either forget or neglect the change of Fi delia ; nay follow her after her change, to make her more miserable: so that there is nothing more hateful then to be chased, whole bodies are followed in the world with lust, and prosecuted in the graves with tyranny. Whose minds the freer they are from vice, their bodies are in the more danger of mischief; so that they are not safe when they live, because of men's love; nor being changed, because of their hates; nor being dead, because of their defaming. What is that chastity which so few women study to keep, and both gods and men seek to violate? If only a nam ked name, why are we so superstitious of a hollow found? If a rare virtue, why are men so careless of such and ex ceeding rareness: Go, Ladies, tell Ceres I am that Fidem liam, that so long knit Garlands in her honour, and chased with a Satire, by prayer to the gods became turned to a tree, whole body now is grown over with rough bark, and whose golden locks are covered with green leaves; yet where and nothing can altar, neither the fear of death, nor the torments. If Ceres seek no revenge, then let virginity be not only the scorn of Savage people, but the spoil. But alas, I feel my last blood to come, & there before must end my last breath. Farewell Ladies, whose lives are subject to many mischiefs; for if you be fair, it is hard to be chased; if chased, impossible to be safe; if you be young, you will quickly bend; if bend, you are suddenly broken. If you be soul, you shall seldom be flattered: if you be not flattered, you will ever be sorrowful. Beauty is a firm fickleness, youth a feeble staidness, deformity a continue all sadness.