XX.
[In time long past, when in Dianaes chase]
In this passion the Authour being ioyfull for a kisse,
which he had receiued of his Loue, compareth the
same vnto that kisse, which sometime Uenus bestowed
vpō Aesculapius, for hauing taken a Bramble
out of her foote, which pricked her through
the hidden spitefull deceyte of Diana, by whom it
was laied in her way, as Strozza writeth. And hee
enlargeth his inuention vppon the french prouerbiall
speech, which importeth thus much in effect,
that three things proceed from the mouth, which
are to be had in high account, Breath, Speech, and
Kissing; the first argueth a mans life; the second,
his thought; the third and last, his loue.
In
time long past, when in Dianaes chase
A bramble bush prickt Venus in the foote,
Olde Æsculapius healpt her heauie case
Before the hurt had taken any roote:
Wherehence although his beard were crisping hard
She yeelded him a kisse for his rewarde.
My lucke was like to his this other day,
When she, whom I on earth do worship most,
In kissing me vouchsafed thus to say,
Take this for once, and make thereof no bost:
Siquidē opinati sunt aliqui, in osculo fieri animarum cōbinationē.
Forthwith my heart gaue signe of ioy by skippes,
As though our soules had ioynd by ioyning lippes.
And since that time I thought it not amisse
To iudge which were the best of all these three;
Her breath, her speach, or that her daintie kisse,
And (sure) of all the kisse best liked me:
For that was it, which did reuiue my hart
Opprest and almost deade with dayly smart.
