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

All my senses, like Beacons flame,
Gaue Alarum to desire
To take armes in Cynthia's name,
And set all my thoughts on fire:
Furies wit perswaded me,
Happy loue was hazards heire,
Cupid did best shoot and see
In the night where smooth is faire;
Vp I start beleeuing well
To see if Cynthia were awake;
Wonders I saw, who can tell?
And thus vnto my selfe I spake;
Sweet God Cupid where am I,
That by pale Diana's light:
Such rich beauties doe espie,
As harme our senses with delight?

107

Am I borne vp to the skyes?
See where Ioue and Venus shine,
Shewing in her heauenly eyes
That desire is diuine:
Looke where lyes the Milken way,
Way vnto that dainty throne,
Where while all the Gods would play,
Vulcan thinkes to dwell alone.
I gaue reynes to this conceipt,
Hope went on the wheele of lust:
Phansies scales are false of weight,
Thoughts take thought that goe of trust,
I stept forth to touch the skye,
I a God by Cupid dreames,
Cynthia who did naked lye,
Runnes away like siluer streames;
Leauing hollow banks behind,
Who can neither forward moue,
Nor if riuers be vnkind,
Turne away or leaue to loue.
There stand I, like Articke pole,
Where Sol passeth o're the line,
Mourning my benighted soule,
Which so loseth light diuine.
There stand I like Men that preach
From the Execution place,
At their death content to teach
All the world with their disgrace:
He that lets his Cynthia lye,
Naked on a bed of play,
To say prayers ere she dye,
Teacheth time to runne away:
Let no Loue-desiring heart,
In the Starres goe seeke his fate,
Loue is onely Natures art,
Wonder hinders Loue and Hate.
None can well behold with eyes,
But what vnderneath him lies.