Peleus, that loath was Thetis to forsake, Had counsel from the gods to hold her fast, Forewarned what loathsome likeness she would take, Yet, if he held, come to herself at last. He held; the snakes, the serpents, and the fire, No monsters proved but travels of desire. When I beheld how Caelica's fair eyes Did show her heart to some, her wit to me, Change, that doth prove the error is not wise, In her mis-shape made me strange visions see; Desire held fast, till love's unconstant zone, Like Gorgon's head, transformed her heart to stone. From stone she turns again into a cloud Where water still had more power than the fire, And I poor Ixion to my Juno vowed, With thoughts to clip her, clipped my own desire; For she was vanished, I held nothing fast, But woes to come and joys already past. This could straight makes a stream, in whose smooth face, While I the image of myself did glass, Thought shadows I for beauty did embrace, Till stream and all except the cold did pass; Yet faith held fast, like foils where stones be set, To make toys dear, and fools more fond to get. Thus our desires besides each inward throw Must pass the outward toils of chance and fear; Against the streams of real-truths they go, With hope alone to balance all they bear, Spending the wealth of nature in such fashion, As good and ill luck equally breeds passion. Thus our delights, like fair shapes in a glass, Though pleasing to our senses, cannot last, The metal breaks, or else the visions pass, Only our griefs in constant molds are cast; I'll hold no more, false Caelica, live free, Seem fair to all the world, and foul to me. |