University of Virginia Library

The first of Ieælousie. Dialogue.

Question
From whence was first this furie hurld,
This Jealousie into the world?
Came she from Hell?

Ans.
No there doth raigne
Eternall hatred, with disdaine,
But she the Daughter is of Love,
Sister of Beauty.

Reply.
Then above
She must derive from the third Spheare
Her heavenly Off-spring.

Ans.
Neither there
From those immortall flames, could shee
Draw her cold frozen Pedigree.

Quest.
If nor from heaven nor hell, where then
Had she her birth?

An.
I'th'hearts of men,
Beauty, and Feare did her create,
Younger then Love, Elder then Hate,
Sister to both, by Beauties side
To love, by Feare to Hate ally'de:
Despoyre her issue is, whose race
Of fruitfull mischiefes drownes the space
Of the wide earth in a swolne flood
Of wrath, revenge, spight, rage, and blood.

Quest.
Oh how can such a spurious line
Proceed from Parents so divine?

Ans.
As streames, which from their Crystall spring
Doe sweet and cleare their waters bring,
Yet mingling with the brackish maine,
Nor taste, nor colour they retaine.

Qu.
Yet Rivers 'twixt their owne bankes flow
Still fresh, can jealousie doe so?

An.
Yes, whilst shee keepes the stedfast ground
Of Hope, and Feare, her equall bound;
Hope sprung from favour, worth, or chance,
Towar'ds the faire object doth advance;
Whil'st Feare, as watchfull Sentinell
Doth the invading Foe repell;
And Jealousie thus mixt, doth prove
The season, and the salt of love:
But when Feare takes a larger scope,
Stifling the child of Reason, Hope,
Then sitting on th'usurped throne,
She like a Tyrant rules alone,
As the wilde Ocean unconfin'de,
And raging as the Northern-winde.