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And if she turnes her whitest Necke to thee?
Marke vvell the beckning of her fairest Brow,
Then from her Haire what may I hope for now?
If that her Lilly Brest and Necke doe once affirme their (No)
And if her shining Eies and Haire will not conclude an (I)
What will her Ruby Mouth then doe, and Brow as white as snowe,
Nay what shall I my selfe expect but vvith denials die?
These wordes were of such force, that, being helped by the loue of her, in whose praise they were sung, I saw her shed certaine teares, that I cannot tell you now (no∣ble Gouernour) how much they moued my hart, nor whether the content, that I had by seeing so true a testimonie of my Mistresse loue, or the greefe, (my selfe being the occasion of her teares) was greater. Calling me to her, she made me sit downe by her, and thus began to say vnto me. If the Loue Abyndaraez, whereunto I am obliged (after I was fully assured of thy thoughtes) is but small, or such, that cannot but with extinction of life be ended, my wordes (I hope) before we leaue this onely place, shall make thee sufficiently knowe. And blame thee I will not for thy mistrust, which hath made thee conceiue amisse; for I knowe it is so sure a thing to haue it, as there is nothing more proper and incident to Loue. For remedie whereof, and of the sorrow that I must needes haue, by seeing my selfe at any time separated from thy sweete companie, from this day forth for euer thou maist hold and esteeme thy selfe such a Lord and Master of my libertie, as thou shalt be indeede, if thou art wil∣ling to combine thy selfe in sacred bondes of marriage with me, the refusall where∣of is (before euery other thing) no small impediment to both our contents, a preiu∣dice to mine honour, and the sole obstacle of enioying the great loue which I beare thee. When I heard these wordes (Loue working my thoughts to things cleane contrarie) I conceiued such great ioy, that had it not beene but by onely bowing downe my knees to the ground, and kissing her faire handes, I was not able to doe any other thing. With the hope of these wordes I liued certaine daies, in the grea∣test ioy in the world, whilest mutable Fortune (enuying my prosperitie and ioyfull life) bereaued vs both of this sweete contentment: for not long after, the King of Granada minding to prefer the Gouernour of Cartama to some higher charge, by his letters commanded him foorthwith to yeeld vp the charge of that Fort, which lies vpon the frontires, and goe to Coyn,where his pleasure was he should be cap∣taine and Gouernour, and also to leaue me in Cartama vnder the charge of him, that came to be Gouernour in his place. When I heard these vnluckie newes for my Mistresse and my selfe, iudge you (noble Gentleman, if at any time you haue beene a louer) what a world of greefe we conceiued. We went both into a secret place to weepe, and lament our misfortunes, and the departure and losse of each others companie. There did I call her my soueraine Mistresse mine onely ioy, my hope, and other names, that Loue did put into my mouth: with weeping I saide vnto her. When the viewe of thy rare beautie shall be taken from mine eies, wilt thou then Xarifa, sometimes remember me? Heere did my teares and sighes cut off my words, and inforcing my selfe to speake more (being troubled in minde) I vttered I know not what foolish wordes vnto her: for the apprehended absence of my deere Mi∣stresse in my thoughts did vtterly carry away my wits, senses, and memorie with it. But who can tell what sorrow my deere Lady felt for this departure, and what bitter
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