31211211"What win I if I gain the thing I seek?
212212A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy.
213213Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week
214214Or sells eternity to get a toy?
215215For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy?
216216Or what fond beggar, but to touch the crown,
217217Would with the scepter straight be strucken down?"
32218218"If Collatinus dream of my intent,
219219Will he not wake, and in a desp'rate rage
220220Post hither, this vile purpose to prevent?
221221This siege that hath engirt his marriage,
222222This blur to youth, this sorrow to the sage,
223223This dying virtue, this surviving shame,
224224Whose crime will bear an ever-during blame."
33225225"O, what excuse can my invention make
226226When thou shalt charge me with so black a deed?
227227Will not my tongue be mute, my frail joints shake,
228228Mine eyes forgo their light, my false heart bleed?
229229The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed;
230230And extreme fear can neither fight nor fly,
231231But coward-like with trembling terror die."
34232232"Had Collatinus killed my son or sire,
233233Or lain in ambush to betray my life,
234234Or were he not my dear friend, this desire
235235Might have excuse to work upon his wife,
236236As in revenge or quittal of such strife;
237237But as he is my kinsman, my dear friend,
238238The shame and fault finds no excuse nor end."
35239239"Shameful it is: ay, if the fact be known.
240240Hateful it is: there is no hate in loving.
241241I'll beg her love, but she is not her own.
242242The worst is but denial and reproving.
243243My will is strong, past reason's weak removing.
244244Who fears a sentence or an old man's saw
245245Shall by a painted cloth be kept in awe."