XXVI.
[When Maye is in his prime, and youthfull spring]
Here the Author as a man ouertaken with some deepe melancholie,
compareth him selfe vnto the Nightingale, and conferreth
his vnhappie estate (for that by no meanes his Mistresse
will pitie him) with her nightly complaints: to whose
harmonie all those that giue attentiue eare, they conceiue
more delight in the musicall varietie of her noates, then
they take iust compassion vpon her distressed heauines.
When
Maye is in his prime, and youthfull spring
Doth cloath the tree with leaues, and ground with flowres,
And time of yere reuiueth eu'ry thing;
And louely Nature smiles, and nothing lowres:
Then Philomela most doth straine her brest
With night-complaints, and sits in litle rest.
This Birds estate I may compare with mine,
To whom fond loue doth worke such wrongs by day,
That in the night my heart must needes repine,
And storme with sighes to ease me as I may;
Whilst others are becalm'd, or lye them still,
Or sayle secure with tide and winde at will.
And as all those, which heare this Bird complaine,
Conceiue in all her tunes a sweete delight,
Without remorse, or pitying her payne:
So she, for whom I wayle both day and night,
Doth sport her selfe in hearing my complaint;
A iust reward for seruing such a Saint.
