Page 2283 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Fearing some hard news from the warlike band [255]
Where her beloved Collatinus lies.
O how her fear did make her colour rise!
First red as roses that on lawn we lay,

Then white as lawn, the roses took away.

«And how her hand in my hand being lock’d, [260]
Forc’d it to tremble with her loyal fear!
Which strook her sad, and then it faster rock’d,

Until her husband’s welfare she did hear;
Whereat she smiled with so sweet a cheer
That had Narcissus seen her as she stood, [265]
Self-love had never drown’d him in the flood.

«Why hunt I then for colour or excuses?

All orators are dumb when beauty pleadeth.
Poor wretches have remorse in poor abuses;
Love thrives not in the heart that shadows dreadeth. [270]
Affection is my captain, and he leadeth;
And when his gaudy banner is display’d,

The coward fights, and will not be dismay’d.

«Then childish fear avaunt, debating die!
Respect and reason wait on wrinkled age! [275]
My heart shall never countermand mine eye:

Sad pause and deep regard beseems the sage;
My part is youth, and beats these from the stage.
Desire my pilot is, beauty my prize;
Then who fears sinking where such treasure lies?» [280]

As corn o’ergrown by weeds, so heedful fear

Is almost chok’d by unresisted lust.
Away he steals with open list’ning ear,
Full of foul hope and full of fond mistrust;
Both which, as servitors to the unjust, [285]

So cross him with their opposite persuasion
That now he vows a league, and now invasion.