92
The Rape of Lucrece.
Why should the worme intrude the maiden bud?
Or hateful Cuckows hatch in Sparrows nests?
Or Todes infect faire founts with venome mud?
Or Tyrant folly lurke in gentle brests?
Or Kings be breakers of their own behests?
But no perfection is so absolute,
That some iniquity doth not pollute.
Or hateful Cuckows hatch in Sparrows nests?
Or Todes infect faire founts with venome mud?
Or Tyrant folly lurke in gentle brests?
Or Kings be breakers of their own behests?
But no perfection is so absolute,
That some iniquity doth not pollute.
The aged man that coffers up his gold,
Is plagu'd with cramps, and gouts, and painful fits,
And scarce hath eyes his treasure to behold,
But like still pining Tantalus he sits,
And useless bans the harvest of his wits;
Having no other pleasure of his gain,
But torment that it cannot cure his pain.
Is plagu'd with cramps, and gouts, and painful fits,
And scarce hath eyes his treasure to behold,
But like still pining Tantalus he sits,
And useless bans the harvest of his wits;
Having no other pleasure of his gain,
But torment that it cannot cure his pain.
So then he hath it when he cannot use it,
And leaves it to be master'd by his yong;
Who in their pride doe presently abuse it:
Their Father was too weak, and they too strong,
To hold their cursed blessed fortune long.
The sweets we wish for turn to loathed sours,
Even in the moment that we call them ours.
And leaves it to be master'd by his yong;
Who in their pride doe presently abuse it:
Their Father was too weak, and they too strong,
To hold their cursed blessed fortune long.
The sweets we wish for turn to loathed sours,
Even in the moment that we call them ours.
Unruly blasts wait on the tender spring,
Unwholsome weeds take root with precious flowers,
The Adder hisseth where the sweet birds sing,
What vertue breeds iniquity devours:
We have no good that we can say is ours;
Unwholsome weeds take root with precious flowers,
The Adder hisseth where the sweet birds sing,
What vertue breeds iniquity devours:
We have no good that we can say is ours;
But