my heart strooken and inwardly pricking, secretly filled and
compressiuely stuft; recording and gathering together into it, varyable
thoughts and working of Loue, my immedicable wounde grewe greater and
greater. But gathering vp the remaynder of my sences, as one that durst,
I assured my selfe to manifest and lay open before her, my intended
desires and amorous conceites. And thus loosing my selfe in a blinde
folly. I could not choose but giue place to my inuading desires,
feruently boyling and inforcing me to say thus.

Oh delycate and heauenly Damosell, whatsoeuer thou art, thy forcyble
loue hath set me on fire, and consumeth my grieued heart; I finde my
selfe all ouer, burning in an vncessant flame, and a sharpe dart cast
into the middest of my breast, where it sticketh fast, hauing made a
mortall wounde vncurable. And hauing spoken thus, to the ende I might
discouer vnto her my hidden desire, and moderate by that meanes the
extreamitie of my bitter passions: vvhich I felt, the more they were
concealed, the more to augment and increase, I patiently helde my peace:
and by this meanes all those feruent and greeuous agitations, doubtfull
thoughtes, wanton and vyolent desires, were somewhat supprest; with my
ill fauoured Gowne, that had still some of the Bramble leaues and
prickes in the Wood hanging vpon it, and euen as a Peacocke in the pride
of his feathers, beholding the fowlenesse of his feete, pulleth downe
hys traine: so I considering the inequallitie of my selfe, with such a
heauenly obiect, appaled the prouocations of my contumacious and high
desires, looking into the vanities of my thoughtes.

And then I earnestly endeuoured by all the meanes that I might, to
subdue, encloyster, and keepe in, my vnbridled gadding appetite,
wandring minde, and immodest desire, intending nowe that it should neuer
be vttered againe.

At length I beganne to thinke in the secret depth of my wounded heart,
that vndoubtedly this my present continued griefe, was equall with that
of wicked _Tantalus_, to whose hotte and thirsting lyppes, the coole and
cleere water did offer it selfe, and to his hungry appetite, the sweete
fruites honge ouer hys gaping mouth appresenting, but he neuer tasted
any of either.

Ah woe is mee euen in like sort, a most fayre Nymph of an excellent
shape, of a florishing age, of Angel-like behauiour vnspeakable, and of
rare honour and exceeding curtesie as mine eies coulde beholde, whose
company exceeded any