15 If love's just power he did not early see, Some small excuse we may his error give; Since few, though learn'd, know yet blest love to be That secret vital heat by which we live: 16 But such it is; and though we may be thought To have in childhood life, ere love we know, Yet life is useless till by reason taught, And love and reason up together grow. 17 Nor more the old show they outlive their love, If, when their love's decayed, some signs they give Of life, because we see them pained and move, Than snakes, long cut, by torment show they live. 18 If we call living, life, when love is gone, We then to souls, God's coin, vain reverence pay; Since reason, which is love, and his best known And current image, age has worn away. 19 And I, that love and reason thus unite, May, if I old philosophers control, Confirm the new by some new poet's light, Who, finding love, thinks he has found the soul. 20 From Goltho, to whom love yet tasteless seemed, We to ripe Tybalt are by order led; Tybalt, who love and valour both esteemed, And he alike from either's wounds had bled. 21 Public his valour was, but not his love, One filled the world, the other he contained; Yet quietly alike in both did move, Of that ne'er boasted, nor of this complained. 22 With these, whose special names verse shall preserve, Many to this recorded hunting came; Whose worth authentic mention did deserve, But from Time's deluge few are saved by Fame. 23 New like a giant lover rose the sun From the ocean queen, fine in his fires and great; Seemed all the morn for show, for strength at noon, As if last night she had not quenched his heat. 24 And the sun's servants, who his rising wait, His pensioners, for so all lovers are, And all maintained by him at a high rate With daily fire, now for the chase prepare. 25 All were, like hunters, clad in cheerful green, Young Nature's livery, and each at strife Who most adorned in favours should be seen, Wrought kindly by the lady of his life. 26 These martial favours on their waists they wear, On which, for now they conquest celebrate, In an embroidered history appear Like life, the vanquished in their fears and fate. 27 And on these belts, wrought with their ladies' care, Hung cimeters of Akon's trusty steel; Goodly to see, and he who durst compare Those ladies' eyes, might soon their temper feel. 28 Cheered as the woods, where new-waked choirs they meet, Are all; and now dispose their choice relays Of horse and hounds, each like each other fleet; Which best, when with themselves compared, we praise. 29 To them old forest spies, the harbourers, With haste approach, wet as still weeping night, Or deer that mourn their growth of head with tears, When the defenceless weight does hinder flight.