116806Make me not obiect to the tell-tale day,

807The light will shew characterd in my brow,

808The storie of sweete chastities decay,

809The impious breach of holy wedlocke vowe.

810Yea the illiterate that know not how

811 To cipher what is writ in learned bookes,

812 Will cote my lothsome trespasse in my lookes.

117813The nourse to still her child will tell my storie,

814And fright her crying babe with TARQVINS name.

815The Orator to decke his oratorie,

816Will couple my reproch to TARQVINS shame.

817Feast-finding minstrels tuning my defame,

818 Will tie the hearers to attend ech line,

819 How TARQVIN wronged me, I COLATINE.

118820Let my good name, that sencelesse reputation,

821For COLATINES deare loue be kept vnspotted:

822If that be made a theame for disputation,

823The branches of another roote are rotted;

824And vndeseru'd reproch to him alotted,

825 That is as cleare from this attaint of mine,

826 As I ere this was pure to COLATINE.

119827O vnseene shame, inuisible disgrace,

828O vnfelt sore, crest-wounding priuat scarre!

829Reproch is stampt in COLATINVS face,

830And TARQVINS eye maie read the mot a farre,

831"How he in peace is wounded not in warre.

832 "Alas how manie beare such shamefull blowes,

833 Which not thēselues but he that giues thē knowes.

120834If COLATINE, thine honor laie in me,

835From me by strong assault it is bereft:

836My Honnie lost, and I a Drone-like Bee,

837Haue no perfection of my sommer left,

838But rob'd and ransak't by iniurious theft.

839 In thy weake Hiue a wandring waspe hath crept,

840 And suck't the Honnie which thy chast Bee kept.