ABSTRACT
Doth entertaine him with an ydle parling And stil doth speake, and stil speakes but the same j Now bids farewell, and now recalles him backe, Telles what was told, and bids againe farewell, And yet againe recalles; for stil doth lacke Something that Love would faine and cannot tell. Pleas'd he should go, yet cannot let him go. So she, although she knew there was no way But this, yet this she could not handle so But she must shew that life desir'd delay. Faine would she entertaine the time as now, And now would faine that Death would seize upon her, Whilst I might see presented in her brow, The doubtfuII combate tride twixt Life and Honor: Life bringing Legions of fresh hopes with her, Arm'd with the proofe of time, which yeeldes we say Comfort and helpe, to such as doe referre All unto him, and can admit delay. But Honour scorning Life, loe forth leades hee Bright Immortalitie in shining armour: Thorow the rayes of whose cleere glorie, she Might see lifes basenesse, how much it might harme her. Besides shee saw whole armies of Reproches, And base Disgraces, Furies feareful sad, Marching with Life, and Shame that still incroches Upon her face, in bloody colours clad. Which representments eeing, worse then death She deem'd to yeeld to Life, and therefore chose To render al to Honour, heart and breath j And that with speede, lest that her inward foes False flesh and bloud, joyning with life and hope, Should mutinie against her resolution. And to the end she would not give them scope, Shee presently proceedes to th'execution. And sharpely blaming of her rebel powres, False flesh (saith she) and what dost thou conspire With C<esar too, as thou wert none of ours, To worke my shame, and hinder my desire? Wilt thou retaine in closure of thy vaines, That enemy Base life, to let my goOd?l No, know there is a greater powre constraines Then can be countercheckt with fearefull blood.
