GUISCARD. Leave me, my friends; this solitary walk Enticeth me to break your company. Leave me, my friends, I can endure no talk. Let me entreat this common courtesy. [_The gentlemen depart_. What grievous pain they 'dure, which neither may Forget their loves, ne yet enjoy their love, I know by proof, and daily make assay. Though Love hath brought my lady's heart to love, My faithful love with like love to requite; This doth not quench, but rather cause to flame The creeping fire which, spreading in my breast With raging heat, grants me no time of rest. If they bewail their cruel destiny, Which spend their love, where they no love can find, Well may I plain, since fortune haleth[64] me To this torment of far more grievous kind; Wherein I feel as much extremity, As may be felt in body or in mind. For by that sight, which should recure my pain, My sorrows are redoubled all in vain. Now I perceive that only I alone Am her belov'd, her looks assure me so: The thought thereof provokes me to bemoan Her heavy plight that grieveth at my woe. This intercourse of our affections-- I her to serve, she thus to honour me-- Bewrays the truth of our elections, Delighting in this mutual sympathy. Thus love for love entreat's the queen of love, That with her help Love's solace we may prove. I see my mistress seeks as well as I To stay the strife of her perplexed mind: Full fain she would our secret company, If she the wished way thereof might find. Heavens, have ye seen, or hath the age of man Recorded such a miracle as this-- In equal love two noble hearts to frame, That never spake one with another's bliss? I am assured that she doth assent To my relief, that I should reap the same, If she could frame the means of my content, Keeping herself from danger of defame. In happy hour right now I did receive This cane from her; which gift though it be small, Receiving it, what joys I did conceive Within my fainting spirits therewithal! Who knoweth love aright, may well conceive By like adventures that to them befall. "For needs the lover must esteem that well, Which comes from her, with whom his heart doth dwell." Assuredly it is not without cause She gave me this; something she meant thereby: For therewithal I might perceive her pause Awhile, as though some weighty thing did lie Upon her heart, which she concealed, because The standers-by should not our loves descry: This clift bewrays that it hath been disclos'd; Perhaps herein she hath something inclos'd: [_He breaks it_. O thou great thunderer! who would not serve, Where wit with beauty chosen have their place? Who could devise more wisely to conserve Things from suspect? O Venus, for this grace That deigns me, all unworthy, to deserve So rare a love, in heaven I should thee place. This sweet letter some joyful news contains, 1 hope it brings recure to both our pains. [_He reads it_.