Hypnerotomachia: The Strife of Loue in a Dreame
on with a panting heart, more shaking than the birde _Sisura_, or a
Lambe carryed in the mouth of a Wolfe.
And thus touched most feruently with pleasant heates, growing &
encreasing more & more, they began to boyle & kindle my colde feare, and
dispositiuely to adopt my altered heate to sincere loue. Which being
thus brought to thys passe, by a prouoked inward desire, yet inwardly as
I reasoned with my selfe, it was wonderfully variable and doubtfull. Oh
most happye Louer of all Louers, that in requitall of hys, might bee
sure to participate of hers.
On the other side, I perswaded my selfe, that if I shoulde offer vnto
her my amorous heart and loue, hauing no better thing to bestow vpon
her, or present vnto her, it might be that she would not refuse it: like
_Artaxerxes_, the King of the Percians; who hauing water presented to
hys handes, accepted of it bowing downe himselfe. Heerewithall, me
thought yet that a fearefull and chill trembling inuaded mee, infusing
it selfe ouer all my body and breast, renewing the force of the extreame
fire, euen like dry reede: which being once kindled, is enflamed and
nourished with the fresh ayre, vntill at length it is increased so
mightily, that it consumeth all to ashes.
And in like sorte, I fully founde in my selfe, an increase and flashing
abroade of my inwarde flames, in their prepared subject, so effectually,
that her amorous regardes gaue me mortall and deadly woundes: euen as
lightning and thunder, among the stronge and mightie oakes, suddainely
with a great force, scorching & tearing them. And therefore I durst not
looke vpon her bright eyes, because that dooing so, (being ouercome with
the incredible beauty of her gracious aspect) if peraduenture her
radious beames did reincounter mutually with myne, for a little while
euery thinge seemed two vnto mee, vntill I had closed the lyddes
together, and restored them to theyr former light.
Wherevpon, and by reason of these thinges captiuated, spoyled, and
ouercome, I determined at that instant to plucke vp some fresh flowers,
and in all humble sort to offer them vnto her, and it came to passe,
that whilst my secret thoughts consented thervnto, consygning a free
meane and large entrance, for the discouery of my desire. But my burning
heart humbly hauing opened the same, euen as a rype Apple being eyther
bytten or shaken, so it fell and fayled me. And receiuing into his
wounded and familiar estuation, in some interposition of time,
immediatly his accustomed heat and feruor increased, piercing the inward
parts with her virgineall aspects, exceedingly beautified with a comely
grace and vnexcogitable elegancie; Because, that into this sweete
introduction into my minde, of these first amorous flames, (lyke the
Troian horse, full of weapons and deceite) the enterance was made for an
euerlasting, vnknown, and vncessant plague, deeply festering in my
tender and poore heart, perpetually remayning: which easily ouercome
with one sweete looke, inconsiderately without delay, hasteneth his owne
hurt, and wholly layeth it selfe open to amorous incursions, and burneth
it selfe with sweet conceits, going into the flames of his owne accord.
To all which burning desires her present company did greatly inforce
mee, which I esteemed to yeelde mee more comfort, then the North starre
in a tempestuous night to the troubled Marriner: more acceptable then
that of _Melicta_ to _Adonis_, or to _Phrodites_, the obsequious Nymph
_Peristera_: and more delightfull then _Dittander_ to the daughter of
_Dydo_, with the Purple flowre for the wounde of _Pius [Ae]neas_: And
finding my heart strooken and inwardly pricking, secretly filled and
compressiuely stuft; recording and gathering together into it, varyable
thoughts and working of Loue, my immedicable wounde grewe greater and
greater. But gathering vp the remaynder of my sences, as one that durst,
I assured my selfe to manifest and lay open before her, my intended
desires and amorous conceites. And thus loosing my selfe in a blinde
folly. I could not choose but giue place to my inuading desires,
feruently boyling and inforcing me to say thus.
Oh delycate and heauenly Damosell, whatsoeuer thou art, thy forcyble
loue hath set me on fire, and consumeth my grieued heart; I finde my
selfe all ouer, burning in an vncessant flame, and a sharpe dart cast
into the middest of my breast, where it sticketh fast, hauing made a
mortall wounde vncurable. And hauing spoken thus, to the ende I might
discouer vnto her my hidden desire, and moderate by that meanes the
extreamitie of my bitter passions: vvhich I felt, the more they were
concealed, the more to augment and increase, I patiently helde my peace:
and by this meanes all those feruent and greeuous agitations, doubtfull
thoughtes, wanton and vyolent desires, were somewhat supprest; with my
ill fauoured Gowne, that had still some of the Bramble leaues and
prickes in the Wood hanging vpon it, and euen as a Peacocke in the pride
of his feathers, beholding the fowlenesse of his feete, pulleth downe
hys traine: so I considering the inequallitie of my selfe, with such a
heauenly obiect, appaled the prouocations of my contumacious and high
desires, looking into the vanities of my thoughtes.
And then I earnestly endeuoured by all the meanes that I might, to
subdue, encloyster, and keepe in, my vnbridled gadding appetite,
wandring minde, and immodest desire, intending nowe that it should neuer
be vttered againe.
At length I beganne to thinke in the secret depth of my wounded heart,
that vndoubtedly this my present continued griefe, was equall with that
of wicked _Tantalus_, to whose hotte and thirsting lyppes, the coole and
cleere water did offer it selfe, and to his hungry appetite, the sweete
fruites honge ouer hys gaping mouth appresenting, but he neuer tasted
any of either.
Ah woe is mee euen in like sort, a most fayre Nymph of an excellent
shape, of a florishing age, of Angel-like behauiour vnspeakable, and of
rare honour and exceeding curtesie as mine eies coulde beholde, whose
company exceeded any exquesite humaine content; and I, iust by her, full
of all whatsoeuer prouocation, forcing sollaciously loue and desire,
heaping vppe in her selfe the whole perfections of delight, and yet my
yauning and voluptuous desire, neuer the more thereby satisfied.
Well, on this sorte my burning concupiscence nothing allayed, as much as
I might, I comforted my languishing hart, vnmeasurably tormented, in
putting of it in minde, of solacious and amorous hope: and with that,
there was neuer a coale so neere put out, but it was presently renued
and set on fire, with the company of the next. And my vnbridled eyes,
the more they were vnarmed to resist her power, the more they were
inflamed with the insolent desire and liking of her wonderfull and
heauenly beautie; Still seeming more faire, more excellent, more louely,
more to be desired, extreamly apt and pr[ae]pared for loue: euedently
shewing foorth in her selfe, a wonderfull increase of sweete pleasure.
Afterwards I thought with my selfe, it may be that she is some creature
which I may not desire, and it may bee the place is not fitte for such
thoughtes, and then it may bee I haue made a wise worke, and spunne a
fayre thred, if I should bee punished for my impudencie, like _Ixion_.
In like sort, the Thracian had neuer founde the deepe seate of
_Neptune_, if he had not medled with _Tethis_; and _Gallantide_, the
mayde of _Lucina_, shoulde not haue brought foorth in her mouth, if hee
had not deceiued. It may that thys Nymph is spowsed to some high and
mightie Prince, and I to offer her this dishonour, what am I worthy of?
And thus resoning with my selfe, I thought that those thinges which had
but slender assurance, woulde lightly slyppe away, and that it would not
be hard to deceiue, where was no watchfull regarde: and to bolde
spirites, Fortune was not altogether fayling: and besides, that it was
harde to knowe a mans thought. Where-vpon, euen as _Calistone_, being
ashamed at her swelling belley, shronke aside from the presence of
_Diana_; so I withdrewe my selfe, blushing at my attempt, and bridling
my inconuenient desires. Yet with a lincious eye, I neuer left to
examine, with great delight, the extreame beautie of the excellent
Nymph, disposing my selfe to her sweete loue, with an vnfallyble,
obstinate, and firme resolution.
_Polia, as yet vnknowne to her Louer Poliphilus, shee gratiously
assureth him: who for her extreame beautie, hee indeuoreth his minde
to loue. And both of them going to the triumphes, they see innumerable
youths and Damosels, sporting with great delight._
The Archer _Cupid_, in my wounding heart hauing his residence, like a
Lord and king, holding me tyed in the bands of Loue, I found my selfe
pricked and grieuously tormented, in his tyrannous and yet pleasant
regiment. And abounding in doubtfull delight, vnmeasurably sighing,
I watered my plaints; and then the surmounting Nymph, with a pleasing
grace, incontinently gaue me comfort, and with her ruddy and fayre
spoken lyppes, framing violent and attractiue wordes, she gaue me
assurance: abandoning and remouing from my heart, all fearefull
thoughts, with her Olymphicall aspects, and cooling with her eloquent
speeches, my burning heart; and with an amorous and friendly regarde,
and cast of her eyes, and smiling grace, she saide thus vnto mee.
_Poliphilus_, I woulde thou shouldest vnderstand and know thys, that
true and vertuous loue hath no respect of outward things, and therefore
let not the basenes of thy apparell, diminish or lessen thy minde,
if perhaps noble and gentle, and worthy of these places, and fitte to
beholde these maruellous tryumphes; Therefore let not thy minde be
dismayed with feare, but dilligently behold what Kingdomes they
possesse, that are crowned by _Venus_. I meane, such as bee strongly
agonished and yet perseuere still, seruing and attending vpon her
amorous Aultars and sacred flames, vntill they obtaine her lawfull
fauour. And then making an ende of her short and sweet speech, both of
vs making forward, our pace neither too fast nor too slowe, but in a
measure; I thought thus, and thus discoursing with my selfe.
Oh most valiant _Perseus_, thou wouldest more feirsly haue fought with
the cruell Dragon, for the fauour of this, then for the loue of thy
fayre _Andromada_. And after.
Oh _Iason_, if the marriage of this had beene offered vnto thee, with a
more greater and more daungerous aduenture, then the obtayning of the
golden fleece, thou wouldest haue let goe that, and vndertaken this,
with a greater courage, esteeming it aboue al the iewelles and precious
treasures of the whole worlde; I, more then those of the ritch and
mightie Queene _Eleutherillida_. Continually seeming more fayre, more
beautifull, and more louely. _Hippodamia_, and all the greedy scraping
and doubtfull Vsurers, neuer tooke such delight in getting of gold.
A quyet Harbour was neuer so welcome to a destressed Marryner, in a
stormy, darke, and tempesteous winter night: nor the wished and oportune
fall of rayne, at the prayer of _Cr[ae]sus_, as the louing consent of
this daintie Nymph: more welcome to mee, then bloody broyles to warlike
_Mars_, or the first fruites of _Creta_ to _Dionisius_: or the warbling
Harpe to _Apollo_: and yet more gratefull, then fertill grounde, full
eares, and plentifull yeelding, to the labouring Husbandman.
And thus in most contented sort, passing on and pressing down the
thicke, greene, and coole grasse: sometime my searching and busie eyes,
woulde haue a cast with her pretty & small feete, passing well fitted
with shooes of Red leather, growing broader from the instept, narrowe at
the toe, and close about the heele; and sometimes her fine and moueable