46316316And being lighted, by the light he spies
317317Lucretia's glove, wherein her needle sticks.
318318He takes it from the rushes where it lies,
319319And griping it, the needle his finger pricks,
320320As who should say, "This glove to wanton tricks
321321Is not inured; return again in haste;
322322Thou seest our mistress' ornaments are chaste."
47323323But all these poor forbiddings could not stay him;
324324He in the worst sense consters their denial.
325325The doors, the wind, the glove that did delay him
326326He takes for accidental things of trial,
327327Or as those bars which stop the hourly dial,
328328Who with a ling'ring stay his course doth let
329329Till every minute pays the hour his debt.
48330330"So, so," quoth he, "these lets attend the time,
331331Like little frosts that sometime threat the spring,
332332To add a more rejoicing to the prime
333333And give the sneapèd birds more cause to sing.
334334Pain pays the income of each precious thing;
335335Huge rocks, high winds, strong pirates, shelves, and sands
336336The merchant fears, ere rich at home he lands."
49337337Now is he come unto the chamber door
338338That shuts him from the heaven of his thought,
339339Which with a yielding latch, and with no more,
340340Hath barred him from the blessèd thing he sought.
341341So from himself impiety hath wrought
342342That for his prey to pray he doth begin,
343343As if the heavens should countenance his sin.
50344344But in the midst of his unfruitful prayer,
345345Having solicited th' eternal power
346346That his foul thoughts might compass his fair fair;
347347And they would stand auspicious to the hour,
348348Even there he starts. Quoth he, "I must deflower;
349349The powers to whom I pray abhor this fact.
350350How can they then assist me in the act?"