Ulysses.
Faire nymph, if fame or honour were
To be attain'd with ease,10
Then would I come and rest with thee.
And leave such toiles as these:
But here it dwels, and here must I
With danger seek it forth;
To spend the time luxuriously15
Becomes not men of worth.
Syren.
Ulysses, O be not deceiv'd
With that unreall name:
This honour is a thing conceiv'd,
And rests on others' fame.20
Begotten only to molest
Our peace, and to beguile
(The best thing of our life) our rest,
And give us up to toyle!
Ulysses.
Delicious nymph, suppose there were25
Nor honor, nor report,
Yet manlinesse would scorne to weare
The time in idle sport:
For toyle doth give a better touch
To make us feele our joy;30
And ease findes tediousnes, as much
As labour yeelds annoy.
Syren.
Then pleasure likewise seemes the shore,
Whereto tendes all your toyle;
Which you forego to make it more,35
And perish oft the while.
Who may disport them diversly,
Find never tedious day;
And ease may have variety,
As well as action may.40
Ulysses.