amourous streame doth run,
That leads the way vnto _Elysium_.
I wonder much (quoth he) when _Ioue_ did make
A treble night for faire _Alcmenaes_ sake,
She nere perceiued that the night was long,
Since all eyes wait vpon the rising sunne:
But sure some melting pleasure did detaine
Her willing senses, and did so enchaine
Her captiue minde, that time vnthought of fled,
Long nights in sweets being swiftly buried.
Might I such dalliance craue, as great _Ioue_ did
Of faire _Alcmena_; or when he lay hid
In the swannes shape; how happy were I then,
And how farre blest aboue all other men!
For this, the gods themselues haue often woed,
Courted, adored, kneeld vnto and sued,
Left heauen, their glory, pompe and maiestie,
And put aside their glittring deitie,
To get this iewell, which yeelds true content.
When that seuerer state perhaps gan ornament
Of inward woe, let mortals be excus'd,
When deities such amourous tricks haue vs'd.
O wit abusing boy (sweet _Licia_ cried;)
The gods for that were neuer deified:
Though they did vse it, and obserue it well,
When ere they did it (as all Poets tell)
They from their godheads long before were turnd,
And to some monstrous beast they were transformd,
And in that shape did act lasciuiousnesse:
For lust transformes vs beasts, and no whit lesse
Do we than they, but yet deserue more blame,
We hauing reason, whose reproofe should tame
Rebell-affection, and not to let it grow,
To worke his owne vntimely ouerthrow.
Insatiate lust as Spring-frosts nips the growth
Of Natures fairest blossomes, crops the worth
Of her best hopes, nay's foe vnto delight,
Dulling the keene edge of our appetite,
Whose rancke desire, much like the Ocean,
Whose swelling ridges no bound can containe,
Oreflowes whole sands, and in her emptie wombe
Buries them all; Euen so doth lust intombe
All disrancke thoughts, sin-breeding interuiewes,
Disordred passions, all dishonest shewes
Of what may fatten vice; like thriftlesse heires
Lusts champians are, which kill their dearest Sires
For their possessions, to giue both life and growth
To helborne riot. So lasciuious youth,
Courting our beauties, cares not to pollute
Our soules for that, though left heauens substitute
To bridle passion. Gentle boy refraine,
And quench vnlawfull heat till _Hymens_ flame
With sacred fire hath warmd vs, and her rites
Fully performd