Am I a Gorgon that she doth me fly, Or was I hatched in the river Nile? Or doth my Chloris stand in doubt that I With syren songs do seek her to beguile? If any one of these she can object 'Gainst me, which chaste affected love protest, Then might my fortunes by her frowns be checked, And blameless she from scandal free might rest. But seeing I am no hideous monster born, But have that shape which other men do bear, Which form great Jupiter did never scorn, Amongst his subjects here on earth to wear, Why should she then that soul with sorrow fill, Which vowed hath to love and serve her still? XI Tell me, my dear, what moves thy ruthless mind To be so cruel, seeing thou art so fair? Did nature frame thy beauty so unkind? Or dost thou scorn to pity my despair? O no, it was not nature's ornament, But winged love's unpartial cruel wound, Which in my heart is ever permanent, Until my Chloris make me whole and sound. O glorious love-god, think on my heart's grief; Let not thy vassal pine through deep disdain; By wounding Chloris I shall find relief, If thou impart to her some of my pain. She doth thy temples and thy shrines abject; They with Amintas' flowers by me are decked. XII Cease, eyes, to weep sith none bemoans your weeping; Leave off, good muse, to sound the cruel name Of my love's queen which hath my heart in keeping, Yet of my love doth make a jesting game! Long hath my sufferance laboured to inforce One pearl of pity from her pretty eyes, Whilst I with restless oceans of remorse Bedew the banks where my fair Chloris lies, Where my fair Chloris bathes her tender skin, And doth triumph to see such rivers fall From those moist springs, which never dry have been Since she their honour hath detained in thrall; And still she scorns one favouring smile to show Unto those waves proceeding from my woe. XIII _A Dream_