Farewell, sweet fancies, and once dear delights,
The treasures of my life, which made me prove
That unaccomplished joy that charmed the sprites,
And whilst by it I only seemed to move,
Did hold my ravished soul, big with desire,
That, tasting those, to greater did aspire.
Farewell, free thraldom, freedom that was thrall
While as I led a solitary life,
Yet never less alone, whilst armed for all,
My thoughts were busied with an endless strife,
For then, not having bound myself to any,
I, being bound to none, was bound to many.
Great god that tam'st the gods' old-witted-child,
Whose temples breasts, whose alters are men's hearts,
FRom my heart's fort thy legions are exiled,
And Hymen's torch hath burned out all thy darts;
Since I in end have bound myself to one,
That by this means I may be bound to none.
Thou dainty goddess with the soft white skin,
To whom so many off'rings daily smoke,
Were beauty's process yet for her to begin,
That sentence I would labor to revoke,
Which on Mount Ida, as thy smiles did charm,
The Phrygian shepherd gave to his own harm.
And if the question we referred to me
On whom I would bestow the ball of gold,
I fear me venus would be last of three;
For with the Thunderer's sister I would hold,
Whose honest flames, pent in a lawful bounds,
No fear disturbs, nor yet no shame confounds.
I mind to speak no more of beauty's dove,
The peacock is the bird whose fame I'll raise;
Not that I argus need to watch my love,
But so his mistriss Juno for to praise;
And if I wish his eyes, then it shall be
That I with many eyes my love may see.
Then farewell crossing joys and joyful crosses!
Most bitter sweets and yet mosy sugared sours!
Most hurtful gains yet most commodious losses,
That made my years to flee away like hours,
And spent the springtime of mine age in vain,
Which now my summer must redeem again.
O welcome, easy yoke! sweet bondage, come!
I seek not from thy toils for to be sheilded,
But I am well content to be o'ercome,
Since that I must command when I have yielded.
Then here I quit both Cupid and his mother,
And do resign myself t' obtain another."
