And when the sighes, and teares, and playntes nigh burst my hart, And place, and stenche, and fare nigh poysond euery pore: For lacke of frends to tell my seas of giltlesse smart, And that mine eyes had sworne to take sweete sleepe no more, I was content, sith cares oppresse me sore, To leaue my foode, take mourning, playnts, and crye, And lay mee downe, let griefe and nature trye. 35. Thus as I pining lay, my carcas coucht on strawe,[488] And felt the payne erst neuer creature earthly knewe, Mee thought by night a grizely ghost in darkes I sawe, Eke nearer still to mee with stealing steps shee drewe: Shee was of colour pale and deadly[489] hewe, Her clothes resembled thousand kinds of thrall, And pictures plaine of hastened deathes withall. 36. I musing lay in paines, and wondred what shee was, Mine eyes stood still, mine haire rose vp for feare an end, My flesh it shoke and trembled: yet I cryde (alas) What wight art thou, a foe or else what fawning frend? If death thou art, I pray thee make an end. But th’art not death. Art thou some fury sent, My woefull corps, with paynes, to more torment? 37. With that shee spake: “I am (quoth shee) thy frend _Despayre_, Which in distresse each worldly wight with speede do ayde: I rid them from their foes, if I to them repayre. To long from thee by other caytiues was I stayde. Now, if thou art to dye no whit afrayde, Here shalt thou choose of Instruments (beholde) Shall rid thy restlesse life, of this be bolde.” 38. And therewithall shee threwe her garments lap aside, Vnder the which a thousand thinges I sawe with eyes: Both kniues, sharpe swordes, poynadoes[490] all bedyde With bloud, and poysons prest which shee could well deuise. “There is no hope (quoth shee) for thee to rise, And get thy Crowne or Kyngdome refte agyne:[491] But for to liue long lasting pyning payne. 39. “Lo here (quoth shee) the blade that _Did’_ of _Carthage_ hight, Whereby shee was from thousand panges of payne let passe: With this shee slewe her selfe, after _Æneas’_ flight, When hee to Sea from _Tyrian_ shoares departed was. Doe choose of these thou seest from woes to passe, Or bide the end, prolong thy paynfull dayes, And I am pleasde from thee to packe[492] my wayes.” 40.