XCV.
[Though somewhat late, at last I found the way]
A Labyrinth is a place made full of turnings & creekes, wherehence,
he that is once gotten in, can hardly get out againe.
Of this sorte
Pliny mentioneth foure in the world, which
were most noble. One in Crete made by Dædalus, at the commaundement
of king Minos, to shut vp the Minotaure in:
to which monster the Atheniens by league were bound, euery
yeere to send seuen of their children, to bee deuoured;
which was perfourmed, till at the last, by the helpe of Ariadne,
Theseus slewe the monster. An other he mentioneth to
haue beene in Ægipt, which also Pomponius Mela describeth
in his first booke. The third in Lemnos, wherein were erected
a hūdreth & fifty pillers of singuler workmāship. The fourth
in Italy, builded by Porsenna king of Herraria, to serue for his
sepulchre. But in this Passion the Authour alludeth vnto
that of Crite only.
Though
somewhat late, at last I found the way
To leaue the doubtfull Labyrinth of Loue,
Wherein (alas) each minute seemd a day:
Him selfe was Minotaure; whose force to proue
I was enforst; till Reason taught my mind
To slay the beast, and leaue him there behind.
But being scaped thus from out his maze,
And past the dang'rous Delme so full of doubt,
False Theseus like, my credite shall I craze,
Forsaking her, whose hand did helpe me out?
With Ariadne Reason shall not say,
I sau'd his life, and yet he runnes away.
No, no, before I leaue the golden rule,
Or lawes of her, that stoode so much my friend,
Or once againe will play the louing foole,
The sky shall fall, and all shall haue an end:
I wish as much to you that louers be,
Whose paines will passe, if you beware by me.
