Then thus I buzzed, when time no sap would give,
"Why should this blessed time to me be dry;
Since by this time the lazy drone doth live,
The wasp, the worm, the gnat, the butterfly?"
Mated with grief, I kneeled on my knees;
And thus complained unto the King of Bees.
"My liege! gods grant thy time may never end!
And yet vouchsafe to hear my plaint of time;
Which fruitless flies have found to have a friend,
And I cast down, when atomies do climb!"
The King replied but thus, "Peace, peevish bee!
Th'art bound to serve the time! and time, not thee!"
The lowest trees have tops! the ant, her gall!
The fly, her spleen! the little spark, his heat!
And slender hairs cast shadows, though but small!
And bees have stings, although they be not great!
Seas have their source, and so have shallow springs!
And Love is Love, in beggars and in kings!
Where waters smoothest run, deep are the fords.
The dial stirs, yet none perceives it move.
The firmest faith is in the fewest words.
The turtles cannot sing, and yet they love.
True hearts have eyes and ears, no tongues to speak!
They hear, and see, and sigh; and then, they break!
What poor astronomers are they,
Take women's eyes for stars!
And set their thoughts in battle 'ray,
To fight such idle wars;
When in the end they shall approve,
'Tis but a jest drawn out of Love.
And Love itself is but a jest
Devised by idle heads,
To catch young Fancies in the nest,
And lay them in fools' beds;
That being hatched in beauty's eyes,
They may be fledged, ere they be wise.