31212From light to dark, from wholesome air to loathsome smell,

213From odor sweet to sweat, from ease to grievous pain,

214From sight of princely wights to place where thieves do dwell,

215From dainty beds of down to be of straw full fain:

216From bowers of heavenly hue to dens of dain;

217From greatest haps that worldly wights achieve;

218To more distress than any wretch alive.

32219With that she spake "I am," quoth she, "thy friend Despair,

220Which in distress each worldly wight with speed do aid;

221I rid them from their foes if I to them repair.

222Too long from thee by other captives was I stayed.

223Now if thou art to die no whit afraid,

224Here shalt thou choose of instruments--behold--

225Shall rid thy restless life; of this be bold."

33226And therewithal she spread her garment's lap aside,

227Under the which a thousand things I saw with eyes:

228Both knives, sharp swords, poignado all bedyed

229With blood, and poisons prest which she could well devise.

230"There is no hope," quoth she," for thee to rise

231And get thy crown or liberty again,

232But for to live long lasting, pining pain."

34233"Lo here," quoth she, the blade that Dido of Carthage hight,

234Whereby she was from thousand pangs of pain let pass;

235With this she slew herself after Aeneas's flight

236When he to sea from Tyrian shores departed was;

237Do choose of these thou seest from woes to pass,

238Or bid the end prolong thy painful days,

239And I am pleased from thee to get my ways."

35240With that was I, poor wretch, content to take the knife

241But doubtful yet to die, and fearful, fain would bide.

242So still I lay in study with myself at bate and strife

243What thing were best of both these deep extremes untried.

244My hope all reasons of despair denied,

245And she again replied to prove it best

246To die, for still in life my woes increas't.