University of Virginia Library

Scæna. 1.

Cupid.
So, now they feel what lordly loue can do
that proudly practise to deface his name
In vaine they wrastle with so fierce a foe,
of little sparkes arise a blazing flame.
“By small occasions loue can kindle heate,
“and wast the Oken brest to cinder dust:
Gismund I haue entised to forget
her widdowes weedes, and burne in raging lust:
Twas I enforst her father to denie
her second marriage to any peere:
Twas I allur'd her once againe to trie
the sower sweetes that Louers buy too deere.
The Countie Palurin, a man right wise,
a man of exquisite perfections:
I haue like wounded with her pearsing eyes,
and burnt her heart with his reflections.
These two shall ioy in tasting of my sweete,
to make them proue more feelingly the greefe
That bitter brings: for when their ioyes shall fleete,
their dole shalbe increast without releefe.
Thus loue shall make worldlings to know his might,
thus loue shall force great princes to obey.
Thus loue shall daunt each proud rebelling spirite,
thus loue shall wreake his wrath on their decay.
Their ghostes shall doe black hell to vnderstand,
how great and wonderfull a God is Loue:
And this shall learne the Ladies of this lande,
with patient mindes his mighty power to proue.
From whence I did descend now will I mount,
to Ioue, and all the Gods in their delights:
In throne of triumph there will I recount,
how I by sharpe reuenge on mortall wights,
Haue taught the earth, and learned hellish spirites
to yeeld with feare their stubburn hearts to loue:
Least their disdain, his plagues and vengeance proue

Cupid remounteth into the heauens.