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50. Temperaunce. Spurina and the Romaine Ladies.

If nature beare thee so great loue, yt she in thee have beautie plast,
Full harde it is as we doe proue, to kepe the body cleane & chast:
Twixt comelinesse and chastitie,
A deadly strife is thought to be.
For beautie whiche some men suppose to be, as twere a golden ill,
Prouoketh strief and many foes, that seke on her to worke her wil:
Assaults to tounes if many make,
No toune so strong but maie be take.
And this Spurina witnesse can, who did for beautie beare the bell,
So cleane a wight so comly made, no dame in Rome but loued well:
Not one could cole her hot desire,
So burnyng was the flame of fire.
Like as when baite caste in ye floud, forthwith doth cause the fishes come,
That pleasantly before did plaie, now presently to death to runne.
For when thei see the baite to fall,
Straight waie thei swallowe hooke and all.
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So when Spurina thei did see, to hym thei flocked out of hande,
She happest dame was thought to be, that in his fauour moste did stande.
Not knowyng under sweete deceits,
How Venus hids her poysoned baits.
But whē he sawe them thus to rage, whom loue had linked in his chain,
This means he sought for to aswage, these ladies of their greuous pain.
His shape intendyng to disgrace,
With many wounds he skotch his face.
By whiche his deede it came to passe, yt he yt semed an angel bright
Euen now so cleane disfigured was, yt he became a lothsom wight.
And rather had be foule and chast,
Then faire, and filthie ioyes to tast.
What pen cā write, or tōg expresse, ye worthy praises of this deede,
Me think that God can do no lesse, then graunt him heaven for his meede,
Who for to saue hymself vpright,
Hymself hath first destroyed quite.
Finis.
q. F. M.
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