True he it said, what euer man it sayd, i That loue with gall and hony doth abound, But if the one be with the other wayd, For euery dram of hony therein found, A pound of gall doth ouer it redound. That I too true by triall haue approued: For since the day that first with deadly wound My heart was launcht, and learned to haue loued, I neuer ioyed howre, but still with care was moued. And yet such grace is giuen them from aboue, ii That all the cares and euill which they meet, May nought at all their setled mindes remoue, But seeme gainst common sence to them most sweet; As bosting in their martyrdome vnmeet. So all that euer yet I haue endured, I count as naught, and tread downe vnder feet, Since[170] of my loue at length I rest assured, That to disloyalty she will not be allured. Long were to tell the trauell and long toile, iii Through which this shield of loue I late haue wonne, And purchased this peerelesse beauties spoile, That harder may be ended, then begonne. But since ye so desire, your will be donne. Then hearke ye gentle knights and Ladies free, My hard mishaps, that ye may learne to shonne; For though sweet loue to conquer glorious bee, Yet is the paine thereof much greater then the fee. What time the fame of this renowmed prise iv Flew first abroad, and all mens eares possest, I hauing armes then taken, gan auise To winne me honour by some noble gest, And purchase me some place amongst the best. I boldly thought (so young mens thoughts are bold) That this same braue emprize for me did rest, And that both shield and she whom I behold, Might be my lucky lot; sith all by lot we hold. So on that hard aduenture forth I went, v And to the place of perill shortly came. That was a temple faire and auncient, Which of great mother _Venus_ bare the name, And farre renowmed through exceeding fame; Much more then that, which was in _Paphos_ built, Or that in _Cyprus_, both long since this same, Though all the pillours of the one were guilt, And all the others pauement were with yuory spilt. And it was seated in an Island strong, vi Abounding all with delices most rare, And wall’d by nature gainst inuaders wrong, That none mote haue accesse, nor inward fare, But by one way, that passage did prepare. It was a bridge ybuilt in goodly wize, With curious Corbes and pendants grauen faire, And arched all with porches, did arize On stately pillours, fram’d after the Doricke guize.