26176His Faulchon on a
flint he
softly
smiteth,
177That from the could
stone
sparkes of
fire doe
flie,
178Whereat a waxen torch forthwith he lighteth,
179Which mu
st be lode
starre to his lu
stfull eye.
180And to the
flame thus
speakes adui
sedlie;
181 As from this cold
flint I enfor
st this
fire,
182 So
LVCRECE mu
st I force to my de
sire.
27183Here pale with feare he doth premeditate,
184The daungers of his loth
some enterpri
se:
185And in his inward mind he doth debate,
186What following
sorrow may on this ari
se.
187Then looking
scornfully, he doth de
spi
se
188 His naked armour of
still
slaughtered lu
st,
189 And iu
stly thus controlls his thoughts vniu
st.
28190Faire torch burne out thy light, and lend it not
191To darken her who
se light excelleth thine:
192And die vnhallowed thoughts, before you blot
193With your vncleanne
sse, that which is deuine:
194O
ffer pure incen
se to
so pure a
shrine:
195 Let faire humanitie abhor the deede,
196 That
spots &
stains loues mode
st snow-white weed.
29197O
shame to knighthood, and to
shining Armes,
198O foule di
shonor to my hou
shoulds graue:
199O impious a
ct including all foule harmes.
200A martiall man to be
soft fancies
slaue,
201True valour
still a true re
spe
ct should haue,
202 Then my digre
ssion is
so vile,
so ba
se,
203 That it will liue engrauen in my face.
30204Yea though I die the
scandale will
suruiue,
205And be an eie-
sore in my golden coate:
206Some loth
some da
sh the Herrald will contriue,
207To cipher me how fondlie I did dote:
208That my po
steritie
sham'd with the note
209 Shall cur
se my bones, and hold it for no
sinne,
210 To wi
sh that I their father had not beene.