XXII.
[When werte thou borne sweet Loue? who was thy sire?]
The substance of this passion is taken out of Seraphine
sonetto 127, which beginneth thus.
Quando nascesti amor? quando la terra
Se rinueste di verde e bel colore;
Di che fusti creato? d'vn ardore,
Che cio læsciuo in se rinchiude e serra &c.
But the Author hath in this translation inuerted the
order of some verses of Seraphine, and added the two
last of himselfe to make the rest to seeme the more
patheticall.
When
werte thou borne sweet Loue? who was thy sire?
Whē Flora first adornd Dame Tellus lap,
Then sprung I forth from Wanton hote desire:
Who was thy nurse to feede thee first with pap?
Youth first with tender hand bound vp my heade,
Then saide, with Lookes alone I should be fed;
What maides had she attendant on her side,
To playe, to singe, to rocke thee fast a sleepe?
Vaine Nicenesse, Beautie Faire, and Pompous Pride;
By stealth when further age on thee did creepe;
Where didst thou make thy chiefe abiding place?
In Willing Hartes, which were of gentle race;
What is't wherewith thou wagest warres with me?
Feare colde as Ise, and Hope as hote as fire;
And can not age or death make end of thee?
No, no, my dying life still makes retire;
Why then sweete Loue take pittie on my paine,
Which often dye, and ost reuiue againe.
