us_ in his beares skinne. In sorrowe more abounding then poore
_Pscyphes_. And in more laboursome daungers then _Lucius Apuleus_, when
hee heard the theeues consulting to knocke him on the head and kyll
him.[A]

[Sidenote A: Cosby for killing the L. Browgh.]

Oppressed and laden with all these aforenamed frightes and terrors, I
began to imagine that the Dragon was flying about my head, and with the
noyse of hir scritching teeth and tearing clawes to take hould vpon me
with hir deuouring iawes: my heart giuing mee to vnderstand, that the
carniuorus Woolfe which I drempt of, was a presage of this my last
doubted end. And thus running vppe and downe like a little poore
Pismeere or Aunte, when the Partrich is scratching vpon their hillocks
and picking of them vp. With my watchfull and attentiue eares, listning
if the horrible monster with hir slimie and filthie poyson and stinking
sauour were drawing towards mee. And fearing whatsoever came first into
my thought.

Finding my selfe vnarmed, voyde of all helpe, in this mortall daunger,
and miserable perplexitie, although that death is naturally bytter and
hated, yet notwithstanding at that time, I did gratiouslie esteeme of
it, which mee thought I could suffer willinglye, but that will was
insufficient: hope still looking, and perswading mee of an vncertaine,
fearefull, and vnquyet lyfe.

Alas howe my soule and bodye were lothe to leaue one an another, the
sorrowe whereof made me vnwilling to intertaine so cruel an enemy as
death: whereupon I plucking vp a good heart, thought thus.

Shall the greatnes of my loue so sweetly set on fire, now decaie,
frustrated of anie effect, for if at this present I had been but
presented with a sight thereof, I could haue beene yet the better
satisfied.

But yet forthwith returning to the inward impression of my sweetest
obiect, stil dwelling in the secret of my heart, I fell into blobering
teares, for the losse of two so worthie iewels. That was _Polia_ and my
precious life. Continually calling vpon her with deepe sighes and
singultiue sobbings, sounding in the thicke ayre, incloystered vnder the
huge arches and secret darke couering, saying thus to my selfe.

If I die heere thus miserably, sorrowfully, and vncomfortably, all
alone, who shal bee a woorthie successour of so precious a gemme? And
who shal be the possor of such a treasure of so inestimable valure? And
what faire heauen shal shew so cleare a light? Oh most wretched