XLVIII.
[Like as the sillie Bird amids the night]
This Passion conteineth two principal pointes. In the first are
placed two similitudes; in both which the Authour expresseth
his own wilfulnes in loue. In the second, he compareth
the beautifull eyes of his Mistresse vnto the eyes of the Basilique,
which killeth a man with his onely sight being a farre
of: whereof Lucan lib. 9. saith thus,
Sibilaque effundens cunctas terrentia pestes,
Ante venena nocens, latè sibi submouet omne
Vulgus, & in vacua regnat Basiliscus arena.
And Mantuan in like manner,
Natus in ardenti Libyæ Basiliscus arena,
Vulnerat aspectu, luminibusque necat.
Like
as the sillie Bird amids the night,
When Birders beate the bush, and shake his nest,
He fluttring forth streight flies vnto the light,
As if it were the day newe sprong from East,
Where so his wilfull wings consume away,
That needes he must become the Birders pray:
Or, as the Flye, when candles are alight,
Still playes about the flame vntill he burne:
Euen so my heart hath seene a heau'nly sight,
Wherehence againe it hardly can returne:
The beames thereof couteine such wondrous flame.
That Ioue him selfe would burne to see the same.
I meane a Virgins face, whose beautie rare,
Much like the Basilique in Lybia soyle,
With onely sight is cause of all my care,
And loads my yeelding heart with endlesse toyle;
Yet needes I must confesse she hath more grace,
Then all the Nimphes that haunt Dianaes chase.
