31211What win I if I gaine the thing I
seeke?
212A dreame, a breath, a froth of
fleeting ioy,
213Who buies a minutes mirth to waile a weeke?
214Or
sels eternitie to get a toy?
215For one
sweete grape who will the vine de
stroy?
216 Or what fond begger, but to touch the crowne,
217 Would with the
scepter
straight be
strokē down?
32218If
COLATINVS dreame of my intent,
219Will he not wake, and in a de
sp'rate rage
220Po
st hither, this vile purpo
se to preuent?
221This
siege that hath ingirt his marriage,
222This blur to youth, this
sorrow to the
sage,
223 This dying vertue, this
suruiuing
shame,
224 Who
se crime will beare an euer-during blame.
33225O what excu
se can my inuention make
226When thou
shalt charge me with
so blacke a deed?
227Wil not my tongue be mute, my fraile ioints
shake?
228Mine eies forgo their light, my fal
se hart bleede?
229The guilt beeing great, the feare doth
still exceede;
230 And extreme feare can neither
fight nor
flie,
231 But cowardlike with trembling terror die.
34232Had
COLATINVS kild my
sonne or
sire,
233Or laine in ambu
sh to betray my life,
234Or were he not my deare friend, this de
sire
235Might haue excu
se to worke vppon his wife:
236As in reuenge or quittall of
such
strife.
237 But as he is my kin
sman, my deare friend,
238 The
shame and fault
finds no excu
se nor end.
35239Shamefull it is: I, if the fa
ct be knowne,
240Hatefull it is: there is no hate in louing,
241Ile beg her loue: but
she is not her owne:
242The wor
st is but deniall and reproouing.
243My will is
strong pa
st rea
sons weake remoouing:
244 Who feares a
sentence or an old mans
saw,
245 Shall by a painted cloth be kept in awe.