Salmacis and Hermaphroditus

Salmacis and Hermaphroditus 1602 Quarto

Signature [D4^v]

Salmacis and Hermaphroditus

685

Her radiant beauty and her subtill arte
So deepely strooke Hermaphroditus heart,
That she had wonne his loue, but that the light
Of her translucent eyes did shine too bright:
For long he look'd vpon the louely mayd,

690

And at the last Hermaphroditus sayd,
How should I loue thee, when I doe espie
A farre more beauteous Nymph hid in thy eye?
When thou doost loue, let not that Nymph be nie thee;
Nor when thou woo'st, let that same Nymph be by thee:

695

Or quite obscure her from thy louers face,
Or hide her beauty in a darker place.
By this, the Nymph perceiu'd he did espie
None but himselfe reflected in her eye,
And, for himselfe no more she meant to shew him,

700

She shut her eyes & blind-fold thus did woo him:
Fayre boy, thinke not thy beauty can dispence
With any payne due to a bad offence;
Remember how the gods punisht that boy
That scorn'd to let a beauteous Nymph enioy

705

Her long wisht pleasure; for the peeuish elfe,
Lou'd of all others, needs would loue himselfe.
So mayst thou loue, perhaps thou mayst be blest,
By graunting to a lucklesse Nymphs request:
Then rest awhile with me amid these weeds.

710

The Sunne that sees all, sees not louers deeds;
Phoebus is blind when loue-sports are begun,
And neuer sees vntill their sports be done:
Beleeue me, boy, thy blood is very stayd,
That art so loth to kisse a youthfull mayd.

[EEBO]

[D4^v]

Wert