30

PHOEBE TO GANYMEDE WISHETH WHAT SHE WANTS HERSELF

442"Fair shepherd--and therefore is Phoebe infortunate, because thou art so fair--although hitherto mine eyes were adamants to resist love, yet I no sooner saw thy face but they became amorous to entertain love; more devoted to fancy than before they were repugnant to affection, addicted to the one by nature and drawn to the other by beauty; which, being rare and made the more excellent by many virtues, hath so snared the freedom of Phoebe as she rests at thy mercy, either to be made the most fortunate of all maidens or the most miserable of all women. Measure not, Ganymede, my loves by my wealth nor my desires by my degrees, but think my thoughts as full of faith as thy face of amiable favors. Then, as thou knowest thyself most beautiful, suppose me most constant. If thou deemest me hardhearted because I hated Montanus, think I was forced to it by fate; if thou sayest I am kindhearted because so lightly I love thee at the first look, think I was driven to it by destiny, whose influence, as it is mighty, so is it not to be resisted. If my fortunes were anything but infortunate love, I would strive with fortune: but he that wrests against the will of Venus seeks to quench fire with oil and to thrust out one thorn by putting in another. If then, Ganymede, love enters at the eye, harbors in the heart, and will neither be driven out with physic nor reason, pity me, as one whose malady hath no salve but from thy sweet self, whose grief hath no ease but through thy grant; and think I am a virgin who is deeply wronged when I am forced to woo, and conjecture love to be strong, that is more forcible than nature. Thus distressed unless by thee eased, I expect either to live fortunate by thy favor or die miserable by thy denial. Living in hope. Farewell.

She that must be thine,
or not be at all.
Phoebe."

443To this letter she annexed this sonnet: