Hope doth fly and will not stay,
With desire to check its flight.
GLOSS.
When to save myself I think,
In the faith of love believing,
Merit fails me on the brink,
And the excesses of my grieving
Straightway from my presence shrink;
Confidence doth die away,
And life's pulse doth cease to beat,
Since misfortune seems to say,
That, when fear pursues in heat,
Hope doth fly and will not stay.
Yes, it flies, and from my pain
With it takes away content,
And the keys of this my chain
For my greater punishment
In my enemy's power remain;
Far it rises to a height
Where 'twill soon be seen no more,
Far it flies, so swift and light
That it is not in my power
With desire to check its flight.
Francenio having recited his gloss, Lauso began his, which was as follows:
In the hour I saw thee first,
As I viewed thy beauty rare,
Straightway did I fear and thirst;
Yet at last I did so fear,
That I was with fear accursed;
Feeble confidence straightway,
When I see thee, leads astray,
With it comes a coward's fear.
Lest they should remain so near,
Hope doth fly and will not stay.
Though it leaves me and doth go
With so wondrous a career,
Soon a miracle will show
That the end of life is near,
But with love it is not so.
I am in a hopeless plight,
Yet that I his trophy might
Win, who loves but knows not why,
Though I could, I would not try
With desire to check its flight.
As Lauso ceased reciting his gloss, Arsindo said:
'Here you see declared, famous Damon and Thyrsis, the cause of the contest between these shepherds; it only remains now that you should give the garland to him whom you should decide to deserve it with better right; for Lauso and Francenio are such friends, and your award will be so just that, what shall be decided by you, they will count as right.'