Part 9 (2/2)

Then, Fairest! if thou wouldst know why: I love thee 'cause thou canst deny.

THE RELAPSE.[59:1]

O turn away those cruel eyes, The stars of my undoing!

Or death, in such a bright disguise, May tempt a second wooing.

Punish their blindly impious[59:2] pride, 5 Who dare contemn thy glory!

It was my fall[59:3] that deified Thy name, and seal'd thy story.

Yet no new sufferings can prepare A higher praise to crown thee; 10 Though my first death proclaim thee fair, My second will unthrone thee.

Lovers will doubt thou canst entice No other for thy fuel, And if thou burn one victim twice, 15 Both think thee poor and cruel!

APPENDIX

A SHEAF OF TRANSLATIONS.

THE REVENGE.

[Ronsard.]

Fair rebel to thyself and Time, Who laugh'st at all my tears, When thou hast lost thy youthful prime, And Age his trophy rears,

Weighing thy inconsiderate pride, 5 Thou shalt in vain accuse it: 'Why beauty am I now denied, Or knew not then to use it?'

Then shall I wish, ungentle Fair, Thou in like flames may'st burn! 10 Venus, if just, will hear my prayer, And I shall laugh my turn.

CLAIM TO LOVE.

[Guarini.]

Alas! alas! thou turn'st in vain Thy beauteous face away, Which, like young sorcerers, rais'd a pain Above its power to lay.

Love moves not as thou turn'st thy[60:1] look, 5 But here doth firmly rest: He long ago thine[60:2] eyes forsook To revel in my breast.

Thy power on him why hop'st thou more Than his on me should be? 10 The claim thou lay'st to him is poor To that he owns from me.

His substance in my heart excels, His shadow, in thy sight: Fire where it burns more truly dwells 15 Than where it scatters light.

THE SICK LOVER.

[Guarini.]

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