218 THE LOVE OF DOM DIEGO AND GYNEURA. R. Linche? [R 1596.

GYNEURA this confirms against her lover,

whom now, all guiltless, She condemns to die: That, in his deed or thought, did ne'er offend her, unless by loving her so wondrous dearly.

Such love, such hate, such liking, such disdain,
Was never known, in one heart to remain.

(immortal Virtue ever linked is

With that pale lean-faced meagre-hued Envy) who, secretly, so falsely, tells his Miss.

How she was mocked! DIEGO loved another!

And stormed and raged, “What madness so should move her

To dote on him, that elsewhere sets his love?"

“He makes you think,” quoth he, "whate'er he list! That this is true, you easily may prove !

for still he wears her favour on his fist.

A hawk it is! which she (so stands the Mart)

Gives him! He, you fair words; but her, his heart!"

With this incensed (that sex will soon believe, soonest when Envy's brood to them display it), "Is't true?" quoth She, "for true love, doth he give such smoothed-faced flattery! doth he thus repay it?" She never scanned the truth of this her grief! Love, in such cases, is of quick belief.

Her love to him was never half so great

(though once she loved him) as is now her hate! This MOмUS breath, like bellows to her heat did kindle fiery coals to hot debate.

He plies her, and exasperates his spite!

And swears and vows he "tells her but the right."

R. Linche? THE LOVE OF DOM DIEGO AND GYNEURA. 219

1596.

She, like a frantic Froe of Thessaly,

madded with BACCHUS' brain-distempering liquor,
Runs here and there, exclaiming furiously,

with hideous, uncouth, mind-affrighting terror;
Swearing revenge on false DIEGO's head,
Whose lying looks, in her such madness bred.

Wherewith she invocates great NEMESIS,
and begs the power of her deity:
She tells her case to justice-doing THEMIS,
and shews how she is wrongèd mightily.
She leaves no power unsought for or unprayed,
That use to help distressed with their aid.

Wrongèd DIEGO, little this suspecting,

now thought it time, to see his dearest Fair; And, other matters of import neglecting,

he presently to her makes his repair : Where being come, such welcome he did find As, at the first, did much disturb his mind.

For fair GYNEURA would not now be seen.

she sent him word, she scorned his fawning flattery! And much did grieve that she so fond had been, to yield her heart to such deceitful battery. "Bid him," quoth she, "go flatter where he list! I like not, I that favour on his fist!"

Such hap it was, DIEGO then had brought

his hawk, the author of this fell debate: Which well confirmed her ever-doubtful thought, that now she was resolved on deadly hate. "Bid him," quoth she, "depart hence from my sight! His loathsome presence brings me irksome spite.”

220 THE LOVE OF DOM DIEGO AND GYNEURA.[R. Linche

'Twas hard! that he, whose love was never tainted,

whose sincere faith was kept inviolate;

Nay, in whose face, all truest love was painted :
should, for his spotless truth, be paid with hate.
He stone-astonied, like a deer at gaze,
Admired these speeches in a wondrous maze.

At last, he craved this favour he might have,
that She herself would hear what he could say.
"So Neptune's town," quoth She, "such license gave
to smooth-faced SINON! (Ilion's lost decay)
So Sirens sing, until they have their will;
Some poor mistrustless passenger to kill!"

She would not hear him speak, O cruel She,
that causeless, thus would kill him with disdain !
He swears he's guiltless! vows innocency!

and in such vows, tears down his cheeks did rain! Those cheeks, which stain the blushing of the Morn, GYNEURA, now, most hatefully doth scorn.

'Tis strange, that Maids should e'er be so abused, to credit each malicious-tongued slave;

And to condemn a man, if once accused,

before, or proof, or trial, he may have!

Too many such there be: woe's me therefore!
Such light credulity, I must deplore.

When sighs, salt tears, and vows could do no good; nor sighs, nor tears, nor vows could pierce her heart! (In which Disdain, triumphant victor stood,

holding in either hand a sable dart;

Wherewith he strikes True Love and Stainless Truth,
Condemning them unto eternal ruth)

1596.

R. Linche? THe Love of DOM DIEGO AND GYNEURA. 221

1596.

Home goes DIEGO, with a cheerless face;

whose steps were led by leaden-footed Grief (Who never goes but with a dead-slow pace, until he find some ease, or some relief). 'Twould melt a marble heart to see that man, Erst fresh as a new-blown rose, so ashy wan.

Where being come, he straight, for four days' space,
locks him in his chamber; and there did pour

Huge showers of crystal rain adown his face
(for, sure, he loved her dearly at this hour!).
All overwhelmed in waves of sea-salt tears,
Some fatal shipwreck of his life he fears.

Wherewith, he calls for paper, pen, and ink:

and for his hawk; which presently he killed. "Die thou!" quoth he, "so shall my Love ne'er think that, for thy sake, to any else I yield!

And plucking off her head, straightway he writes,
Who, sending it as token, thus indites.

"Lo, here, thou cruel Fair! that gracious favour! the ensign, as thou saidst, of my untruth! Behold in what high-prized esteem, I have her that gave me it (the cause of all my ruth)! Look, as this hawk, fair Love! so is my heart! Mangled and torn, 'cause Thou so cruel art!"

"I swear to thee, by all the rites of love!

by heaven's fair head! by earth! and black-faced hell! I ne'er meant other love but thine to prove!

nor, in my heart, that any else should dwell! Let this suffice, my Joy! my Dear! my Chief! My griefs are too too long, though letter brief."

222 THE LOVE OF DOM DIEGO AND GYNEURA.[R. Linche?!

'Twas time to end! for floods gushed out amain,

out came the springtide of his brinish tears, Which whatsoe'er he wrote blot out again,

All blubbered so to send it scarce he dares; And yet he did. "Go thou," quoth he unto her, "And for thy Master, 'treat! solicit! woo her!"

"And pray thee, if thy fortune be so good
as to be viewed by sunshine of her eyes,
Bid her take heed in spilling guiltless blood!
tell her there's danger in such cruelties!"
With this, he gave it to the messenger,

Who, making speed, in short time, brought it her.

She, when She heard from whom the letter came, returns it back again, and straight replied,

1590.

"My friend!" quoth She, " hadst thou not told his name, perhaps thy letter had not been denied." Whereat She paused, "but yet I'll see," quoth She, "With what persuading terms, he flatters me! "

'Twas quickly read (God knows it was but short!)
Grief would not let the writer tedious be,
Nor would it suffer him fit words to sort,

but pen it, chaos like, confusedly:

Yet had it Passion to have turned hard stones
To liquid moisture! if they heard his moans.

But cruel She, more hard than any flint,

worse than a tigress of Hyrcania,

Would not be moved! nor could his lines take print
in her hard heart! So cruel was GYNEURA!

She which once loved him dearly (too too well!),
Now hates him more than any tongue can tell!