LXIII.
[Loue hath two shaftes, the one of beaten gold]
Loue hath two arrowes, as Cōradus Celtis witnesseth in these two verses:
Per matris astrum, & per fera spicula,
Quæ bina fert sæuus Cupido, &c.
The one is made of leade, the other of golde, and either of
them different in quality from the other. The Authour therfore
faineth in this Passion, that when Cupid had strokē him
with that of lead, soone after pittying his painefull estate, he
thought good to strike his beloued with the other. But her
brest was so hard, that the shaft rebounding backe againe,
wounded Loue him selfe at vnawares. Wherehence fell out
these three inconueniences; first, that Loue him selfe became
her thrall, whome hee shoulde haue conquered; then,
that she became proud, where she should haue been friēdly,
and lastly, that the Authour by this meanes despaireth to
haue any recure of his vnquiet life, & therfore desireth a speedie
death, as alluding to those sētētious verses of Sophocles
,
τι γαρ βροτων αν συν κακοις μεμιγμενων
θνησκειν ο μελλων, του χρονου κερδος φεροι.
which may be thus Englished paraphrastically.
What can it him auaile to liue a while,
Whome, of all others, euilles are betyde?
Loue
hath two shaftes, the one of beaten gold,
By stroake wherof a sweete effect is wrought:
The other is of lumpishe leaden mould,
And worketh none effect, but what is nought;
Within my brest the latter of the twaine
Breades feare, feare thought, and thought a lasting paine.
One day amongst the rest sweete Loue beganne
To pitty mine estate, and thought it best
To perce my Deare with golde, that she might scanne
My case aright, and turne my toyles to rest:
But from her brest more hard then hardest flint
His shafte flewe backe, and in him selfe made printe.
And this is cause that Loue doth stoup her lure,
Whose heart he thought to conquere for my sake;
That she is proude; and I without recure:
Which triple hurte doth cause my hope to quake:
Hoape lost breedes griefe, griefe paine, and paine disease,
Disease bringes death, which death will onely please.
