117171This silent war of lilies and of roses,

7272Which Tarquin viewed in her fair face's field,

7373In their pure ranks his traitor eye encloses,

7474Where, lest between them both it should be killed,

7575The coward captive vanquishèd doth yield

7676To those two armies that would let him go

7777Rather than triumph in so false a foe.

127878Now thinks he that her husband's shallow tongue,

7979The niggard prodigal that praised her so,

8080In that high task hath done her beauty wrong,

8181Which far exceeds his barren skill to show.

8282Therefore that praise which Collatine doth owe

8383Enchanted Tarquin answers with surmise,

8484In silent wonder of still-gazing eyes.

138585This earthly saint, adorèd by this devil,

8686Little suspecteth the false worshipper,

8787"For unstained thoughts do seldom dream on evil."

8888"Birds never limed no secret bushes fear."

8989So, guiltless, she securely gives good cheer

9090And reverend welcome to her princely guest,

9191Whose inward ill no outward harm expressed.

149292For that, he colored with his high estate,

9393Hiding base sin in pleats of majesty,

9494That nothing in him seemed inordinate,

9595Save sometime too much wonder of his eye,

9696Which, having all, all could not satisfy;

9797But, poorly rich, so wanteth in his store

9898That, cloyed with much, he pineth still for more.

159999But she that never coped with stranger eyes

100100Could pick no meaning from their parling looks

101101Nor read the subtle shining secrecies

102102Writ in the glassy margents of such books.

103103She touched no unknown baits, nor feared no hooks,

104104Nor could she moralize his wanton sight

105105More than his eyes were opened to the light.