15For he the night before in Tarquins Tent,
¶Vnlockt the trea
sure of his happie
state:
¶VVhat pri
sele
sse wealth the heauens had him lent,
¶In the po
sse
ssion of his beauteous mate.
¶Reckning his fortune at
such high proud rate,
20_That Kings might be e
spow
sed to more fame,
¶_But King nor Peere to
such a peerele
sse dame.
¶O happine
sse enioy'd but of a few,
¶And if po
sse
st as
soone decayed and done:
¶As is the mornings
siluer melting dew,
25Again
st the golden
splendour of the Sunne.
¶An expir'd date canceld ere well begunne.
¶_Honour and Beautie in the owners armes,
¶_Are weakelie fortre
st from a world of
_harmes.
¶Beautie it
selfe doth of it
selfe per
swade,
30The eies of men without an Orator,
¶VVhat needeth then Apologies be made
¶To
set forth that which is
so
singuler?
¶Or why is Colatine the publi
sher
¶_Of that rich iewell he
should keepe vnknown,
35_From theeui
sh eares becau
se it is his owne?