 | Parthenophil and Parthenophe |  |
ELEGIE IX.
With humble suite vpon my bended knee,(Though absent farre from hence not to be seene)
Yet in thy power still present as goddes bee
I speake these wordes, whose bleeding woundes be greene,
To thee drad Cupid, and thy mother Queene:
If it at any time hath lawfull beene
Men mortall to speake with adietie,
Oh you great guiders of yong springing age,
VVhose power immortall euer was I weene
(As mightie as your spatious Monarchie)
Oh spare me, spare my tedious pilgrimage!
Take hence the least brand of your extreame fiers,
Do not gainst those (which yeelde) fierce battell wage:
I know by this, you will alaye your rage,
That you giue life vnto my long desiers,
VVhich still persuades me, you will pittie take:
Life is farre more, then my vext soule desiers:
Oh take my life, and after death torment mee,
Then (though in absence of my cheefe delight)
I shall lament alone, my soule requires,
And longes to visite sweet Elizian fieldes:
Then that I lou'd it neuer shall repent me,
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VVould I walke pensiue, pleas'd, alone and dumme:
Graunt this petition sweet loues Queene which weeldes
The hart of forlorne louers euermore:
Or else Zanclæan Charibd me deuoure,
And through his waters sent to Stigian power,
Or patient let me burne in Aetnaes flame:
Or fling my selfe in furie from the shore
Into deepe waues of the Leucadean god,
Rather then beare this tumulte and vproare,
And through your meanes be scourg'd with mine owne rod:
Oh let me dye, and not endure the same:
The suite I make, is to be punish't still,
Nor would I wish not to be wretched there,
But that I might remaine in hope, and feare:
Sweet louely saintes, let my suite like your will.
| Parthenophil and Parthenophe | |