Poems and Dramas of Fulke Greville :: :: University of Virginia Library

Pelius, that loth was Thetis to forsake,
Had counsell from the Gods to hold her fast,
Fore-warn'd what lothsome likenesse she would take,
Yet, if he held, come to her selfe at last.
He held; the snakes, the serpents and the fire,
No monsters prou'd, but trauells of desire.

When I beheld how Cælica's faire eyes,
Did shew her heart to some, her wit to me;
Change, that doth proue the error is not wise,
In her mis-shape made me strange visions see,
Desire held fast, till Loues vnconstant zone,
Like Gorgon's head transform'd her heart to stone.

From stone she turnes againe into a cloud,
Where water still had more power than the fire,
And I poore Ixion to my Iuno vowed,
With thoughts to clip her, clipt my owne desire:
For she was vanisht, I held nothing fast,
But woes to come, and ioyes already past.

This Cloud straight makes a stream, in whose smooth face,
While I the Image of my selfe did glasse,
Thought Shadowes I, for beautie did embrace,
Till streame and all except the cold did passe;
Yet faith held fast, like foyles where stones be set,
To make toyes deare, and fooles more fond to get.

Thus our desires besides each inward throw,
Must passe the outward toyles of Chance, and Feare,
Against the streames of reall truthes they goe,
With hope alone to ballance all they beare,
Spending the wealth of nature in such fashion,
As good and ill lucke, equally breeds passion.

Thus our Delights, like faire shapes in a glasse,
Though pleasing to our senses, cannot last,
The metall breaks, or else the Visions passe,
Onely our griefes in constant moulds are cast:
Ile hold no more, false Cælica, liue free;
Seeme faire to all the world, and foule to me.