LVI.
[Come gentle Death; who cals? one thats opprest]
The first Staffe of this Passion is much like vnto that inuention
of Seraphine in his Strambotti, where he saith,
Morte! che vuoi? te bramo: Eccomi appresso;
Prendemi: a che? che manchi el mio dolore;
Non posso: ohime, non puoi? non per adesso;
Perche? però che in te non regna il core. &c.
The second Staffe somewhat imitateth an other of his Strambotti
in the same leafe; it beginneth thus,
Amor, amor: chi è quel che chiama tanto?
Vn tuo seruo fidel; non ti conosco; &c.
The Authour in the laste Staffe, returneth to entreate Death a
new, to ende his dayes, as being halfe perswaded that Loue
would restore vnto him his hart againe.
Come
gentle Death; who cals? one thats opprest:
What is thy will? that thou abridge my woe,
By cutting of my life; cease thy request,
I cannot kill thee yet: alas, why soe?
Thou want'st thy Hart. Who stoale the same away?
Loue, whom thou seru'st, intreat him if thou may.
Come, come, come Loue: who calleth me so oft?
Thy Uassall true, whome thou should'st know by right.
What makes thy cry so faint? my voyce is softe,
And almost spent by wayling day and night.
Why then, whats thy request? that thou restore
To me my Hart, and steale the same no more.
And thou, O Death, when I possesse my Hart,
Dispatch me then at once: why so?
By promise thou art bound to end my smart.
Why, if thy Hart returne, then whats thy woe?
That brought from colde, It neuer will desire
To rest with me, which am more hote then fire.
