This life is good, what’s good thou must improve,

The highest improvement of this life is love.

Had I (but O that envious Destinie,

Or Stygian vow, or thrice accursed charm

Should in this place free passage thus denie

Unto my shafts as messengers of harm!

Had I but once transfixt thy froward breast,

How would’st thou then——I staid not for the rest;

But thus half angry to the boy replide:

How would’st thou then my soul of sense bereave!