Love’s sweetest favours are conferred by stealth;
Its darksome hints are treasured mines of wealth.
The tale’s most pleasant to a lover’s ears,
That tells of joys he’s tasted, ills he fears.105
Speak, meddler, then, in plain, unvarnished guise;
No subterfuge employ; deal not in lies.
The veil tear off, dissimulation lost:
“When unadorned, beauty’s adorned the most.”
Should my sweet love unveil’d her charms display,
Thy smirks and smiles would all be borne away.