Montemayor's Diana

Page 268

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As blustring windes vpon the cloudes and raine,
Or as the snowe that meltes before the sunne.
And then since that my wet and wearied eies
Were woont to be enuious once to see,
Bicause they sawe the seate, where nature lies
With all her treasures, and the chiefest prize,
Of beautie, that in all the world might be:
Now shall they onely seeke, and wish this hire
(Continually in bitternes to weepe)
Now shall they burne in swelling teares like fire,
And now in lieu of seeing that desire,
My cheekes in them shall neuer cease to sleepe.
Since th’absence of the Nymph, I loue so much,
Hath deyn’d to beare me company of late,
Then needes my life must languish, and be such,
That greefes and sorrowes will not also grutch
To follow absence, as their chiefest mate:
And since my Star is hid, and gone away,
Whereby my life and senses I did guide,
I cannot choose but erre, and goe astray,
And liue in senselesse darknes euery day,
Finding no light wherein I may abide.
And now exiled, shall my body flie
(Since hard mishap the same did so oppresse)
But yet my soule shall euermore be nie,
And shall be neuer absent, though I die,
From the sweete body of my Shepherdesse:
And so if that my vitall powers quaile,
Or bodie die by wandring heere and there,
Impossible it is my soule should faile,
Or death or danger should the same assaile,
Accompanying her body any where.
My soule for euer doth in her remaine,
My body but for absence doth lament,
That though my wretched body now is faine
To wander heere, yet doth my loue restraine
My soule to stay, that neuer would consent:
Then (miserable body) once begin
This sorrowfull departure with no wonder
To feele with paine and greefe: And neuer lin
To waile the cruell torments thou art in,
With soule and body parting thus asunder.
You shall my drenched eies, no lesse then this,
Feele this great miserie, that greeues me soe,
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