ell state,
All other meanes of comfort comes too late.
And since thou needs woldst vnderstand my sham
Which I did grieue and blush to ope to thee,
And had lear di'd then told thee of the same,
Now be not slacke to lend thy helpe to me,
Thou forst me for to open my disgrace,
Then lend thy help to salue my wretched case.
You do not know good Nurse or haue forgot,
What 'tis to loue, and cannot it obtaine,
Of youths kind daliance age doth take no note,
Forgetting it, and thinke all may abstaine:
But tis not so, I to those thoughts reply,
Then helpe me gentle Nurse, or else I die.
Liue still my sweete, quoth she, and do possesse,
Yet name of (father) shame forc't her conceale
And with a staggring speech the word represt,
And all her helpe more amply to reueale,
She made a vow, whereby herselfe she bound,
To do the best that might in her be found.
The feasts of gentle _Ceres_ now began,
Which yearely they obseru'd, and held it ill,
For thrice three nights to lye with any man,
The wiues in white, apparrelled were still,
And vnto _Ceres_, first fruit of the field,
(As garlands made of eares of corne) did yeeld.
The Queen amongst these women did frequent
These Rites, and would be absent at that time.
The Nurse then to accomplish her intent,
And finding _Cynaras_ made blith with wine,
The Syren most inchantingly did sing,
And thus at last broke silence to the King.
Renowned King, but that your constant loue
Restraines my tongue & holds my speeches in,
A wanton question I would to thee moue?
Speak on, quoth he, good Nurse thy speech begin,
With _Bacchus_ feasts do wanton sports agree,
I know thou wouldst no ill thing vnto me.
Then thus, quoth shee, there is a gallant Maide
Of Princely birth and Noble high degree,
Who at this time would be right well apaide
To kisse thy hand, shee is so in loue with thee,
Such diuine beauty in her face doth lurke,
That Gods enuy at Nature for the worke.
Without offence vnto your Queene and Wife,
Vnto this Lady, she is a homely cate,
I loue your Queene, and honour her as life,
And but admire the others happy state,
That's made so faire that none can like her bee,
Your Queene is kind, abuse her not for mee.
But if you saw her face, as I haue done,
And view'd the rest of her proportion'd limbs,
You would contemne my
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