1911331Her letter now is seal'd, and on it writ

1332At ARDEA to my Lord with more then hast,

1333The Post attends, and shee deliuers it,

1334Charging the sowr-fac'd groome, to high as fast

1335As lagging fowles before the Northerne blast,

1336 Speed more then speed, but dul & slow she deems,

1337 Extremity still vrgeth such extremes.

1921338The homelie villaine cursies to her low,

1339And blushing on her with a stedfast eye,

1340Receaues the scroll without or yea or no,

1341And forth with bashfull innocence doth hie.

1342But they whose guilt within their bosomes lie,

1343 Imagine euerie eye beholds their blame,

1344 For LVCRECE thought, he blusht to see her shame.

1931345When seelie Groome (God wot) it was defect

1346Of spirite, life, and bold audacitie,

1347Such harmlesse creatures haue a true respect

1348To talke in deeds, while others saucilie

1349Promise more speed, but do it leysurelie.

1350 Euen so this patterne of the worne-out age,

1351 Pawn'd honest looks, but laid no words to gage.

1941352His kindled duetie kindled her mistrust,

1353That two red fires in both their faces blazed,

1354Shee thought he blusht, as knowing TARQVINS lust,

1355And blushing with him, wistlie on him gazed,

1356Her earnest eye did make him more amazed.

1357 The more shee saw the bloud his cheeks replenish,

1358 The more she thought he spied in her som blemish.

1951359But long shee thinkes till he returne againe,

1360And yet the dutious vassall scarce is gone,

1361The wearie time shee cannot entertaine,

1362For now tis stale to sigh, to weepe, and grone,

1363So woe hath wearied woe, mone tired mone,

1364 That shee her plaints a little while doth stay,

1365 Pawsing for means to mourne some newer way.