LXXXIIII.
[Diana, since Hippolytus is deade]
The Authour in this Sonnet expresseth his mallice towardes
Uenus and her Sonne Cupid, by currying fauour with Diana,
and by suing to haue the selfe same office in her walkes and
forrest, which sometimes her chast and best beloued Hippolitus
enioyed. Which Hippolitus (as Seruius witnesseth) dyed
by the false deceipt of his Stepmother Phædra, for not yeelding
ouer himselfe vnto her incestuous loue: whereuppon
Seneca writeth thus,
Iuuenisque castus crimine incesta iacet,
Pudicus, insons.
Diana, since Hippolytus is deade,
Let me enioy thy fauour, and his place:
My might through will shall stand thee in some steade,
To driue blinde Loue and Venus from thy chase:
For where they lately wrought me miekle woe,
I vow me nowe to be theire mortall foe.
And doe thou not mistrust my chastetie,
When I shall raunge amidst thy virgine traine:
My raynes are chastned so through miserie,
That Loue with me can nere preuaile againe:
“The childe, whose finger once hath felt the fire,
“To playe therewith will haue but smale desire.
Besides, I vow to beare a watchful eye,
Discou'ring such, as passe along thy groue;
If Iuppiter him selfe come loytring by,
Ile call thy crew, and bid them fly from Ioue;
For if they stay, he will obtaine at last,
What now I loathe, because my loue is past.
