DORINDA

' is true indeed you say, I am beloved, Sweet Amarillis, and perhaps much more Then I would be: plenty does make me poor. For now my heart, as if divided stands Betwixt two passion love, and pity both, That draw it either way with that main force, As that I know not which to yield unto: And then fear in the amid, holds m in suspense, Least I loath both by mine improvidence. I must tell you deer friend the whole discourse From whom I cannot any thing conceal, Arcadia knows, and every Shepherd knows How much Mirtillus hath deserved of me, And how long time his woeful suit hath lain, Depending on the mercy of mine eyes, For whom I do confess, pity hath be the A turny evermore that stands and pleads Before my heart, the justice of his cause, And says he ought have love, by loves own laws. But now the master sovereign Lord of hearts. That great commander, and that tyrant love, Who must have all according to his will, Whom pity only Ushers goes before, As lightning does the thunder, he says no, And will that Colax only have my heart, That gallant herdsman full of skill and art: And all experience of loves my steries: To whom I must confess me to have given The earnest of my love; but since that time I never saw the man, which makes me much To wonder that his dealings should be such: For either love, hath in respect that I Despised have the true and honest faith, Of one that loved me with sincerity, Made me the spoil of falsehood and contempt, Or else perhaps the same is done to try, My resolution, and my constancy? But yet I fear the worst, and fear I may, Least he now having God the victory, Cares for no more; and seeing he knows my love Turns towards him, he turns his back to me, So that I know not what were best resolve, Either to stand unto the doubtful faith Of one that both so dangerously begun, Or else return accept Mirtillus love, Who will perhaps when mine begins have done So that enwrapped in this distracted toil I vex, and know not what to do the whil And therefore Amarillis I think sure, (Seeing now how others love in me hath proved) You are most happy not to be beloved. What in a Cave? Cloris, how came you there? Alas and what am I forgotten then? Why these were even the words he spoke to me. Ah what hath then my silly ignorance done To be deceived, and mocked by such a one? The more wretch he, & more hard hap was theirs. No truly not of yours, but I have cause In my particular that makes me sighs. Nor I in troth it's farthest from my mind. And truly Amarillis so was I. I dreamed, that having gone to gather flowers, And weary of my work, reposing me Upon a bank near to a Rivers side, A subtle Serpent lurking in the grass. Came secretly, and seized on my left breast, Which though I saw, I had no power to stir, But lay me still, till he had eat a way Into my bosom, whence he took my heart, And in his mouth carrying the same away, Returns, me thought again from whence he came, Which I perceiving presently arose, And after it most woefully I went, To see if I could find my heart again, And up and down, I sought but all in vain. And so it may be I have done to day. Ah go, go Cloris, haste away with speed. And here this sad distress of such a true, And constant lover, overcome with grief, Presents unto my guilty memory The wrongs, Mirtillus hath endured of me. And o I would I knew now how he does, I fear he is not well, I saw him not Scarce these three days, I marvel where he is, And yet what needs I marvel, who have thus Chaced him from me with frowns, and usage vile, And fondly leaft the substance of his faith, To catch the shadow of deceit and guile? Was Colax he I thought the only man, And is he now proved to be such a one? Oh that I ever lent and easy ear, Unto so false a wretches flatteries, Whose very name I now abhor to hear, And loath my self, for being so unwife. What shall I do sweet Amarillis now, Which way shall I betake me to recover The lose of shame, and lose of such a lover? Although this be upon short warning, yet For that I have be summoned before By mine own heart, and his deserts to me To yield to such a motion, I am now Content t'accept his love, and will be his,