LXV.
[Who knoweth not, how often Venus sonne]
In the first and second part of this passion, the Author proueth
by examples, or rather by manner of argument, A maiori
ad minus, that he may with good reason yeeld him selfe
to the imperie of Loue, whome the gods them selues obey;
as Iuppiter in heauen, Neptune in the seas, and Pluto in hell.
In the last staffe he imitateth certaine Italian verses of M.
Girolamo Parabosco; which are, as followeth.
Occhi tuoi, anzi stelle alme, & fatali,
Oue ha prescritto il ciel mio mal, mio bene:
Mie lagrime, e sospir, mio riso, e canto;
Mia spene, mio timor; mio foco & giaccio;
Mia noia, mio piacer; mia vita & morte.
Who
knoweth not, how often Venus sonne
Hath forced Iuppiter to leaue his seate?
Or els, how often Neptune he hath wunne
From seaes to sandes, to play some wanton feate?
Or, howe he hath constraind the Lord of Stix
To come on earth, to practise louing trickes?
If heau'n, if seaes, if hell must needes obay,
And all therein be subiect vnto Loue;
What shall it then auaile, if I gainsay,
And to my double hurt his pow'r do proue?
No, no, I yeeld my selfe, as is but meete:
For hetherto with sow'r he yeeldes me sweet.
From out my Mistres eyes, two lightsome starres,
He destinates estate of double kinde,
My teares, my smyling cheere; my peace, my warres;
My sighes, my songes; my feare, my hoping minde;
My fyre, my frost; my ioy, my sorrowes gall;
My curse, my prayse; my death, but life with all.
[_]
Poem LXVI. is a Latin translation of a sonnetto by Petrarch.
