But all in vain, good queen, it will not be,
She hath assay’d as much as may be prov’d; 608
Her pleading hath deserv’d a greater fee;
She’s love, she loves, and yet she is not lov’d.
“Fie, fie,” he says, “you crush me; let me go;
You have no reason to withhold me so.” 612
“Thou hadst been gone,” quoth she, “sweet boy, ere this,
But that thou told’st me thou wouldst hunt the boar.
Oh be advis’d; thou know’st not what it is,
With javelin’s point a churlish swine to gore, 616
Whose tushes never sheath’d he whetteth still,
Like to a mortal butcher, bent to kill.
“On his bow-back he hath a battle set
Of bristly pikes, that ever threat his foes; 620
His eyes like glow-worms shine when he doth fret;
His snout digs sepulchres where’er he goes;
Being mov’d, he strikes whate’er is in his way,
And whom he strikes his crooked tushes slay. 624
“His brawny sides, with hairy bristles armed,
Are better proof than thy spear’s point can enter;
His short thick neck cannot be easily harmed;
Being ireful, on the lion he will venture: 628
The thorny brambles and embracing bushes,
As fearful of him, part, through whom he rushes.
“Alas! he naught esteems that face of thine,
To which love’s eyes pay tributary gazes; 632
Nor thy soft hands, sweet lips, and crystal eyne,
Whose full perfection all the world amazes;
But having thee at vantage, wondrous dread!
Would root these beauties as he roots the mead.
“Oh let him keep his loathsome cabin still, 637
Beauty hath naught to do with such foul fiends:
Come not within his danger by thy will;
They that thrive well, take counsel of their friends.
When thou didst name the boar, not to dissemble,
I fear’d thy fortune, and my joints did tremble.
“Didst thou not mark my face, was it not white?
Saw’st thou not signs of fear lurk in mine eye? 644
Grew I not faint, and fell I not downright?
Within my bosom, whereon thou dost lie,
My boding heart pants, beats, and takes no rest,
But like an earthquake, shakes thee on my breast.
“For where love reigns, disturbing jealousy 649
Doth call himself affection’s sentinel;
Gives false alarms, suggesteth mutiny,
And in a peaceful hour doth cry “Kill, kill!” 652
Distemp’ring gentle love in his desire,
As air and water do abate the fire.
“This sour informer, this bate-breeding spy,
This canker that eats up love’s tender spring, 656
This carry-tale, dissentious jealousy,
That sometime true news, sometime false doth bring,
Knocks at my heart, and whispers in mine ear,
That if I love thee, I thy death should fear. 660
“And more than so, presenteth to mine eye
The picture of an angry chafing boar,
Under whose sharp fangs on his back doth lie
An image like thyself, all stain’d with gore; 664
Whose blood upon the fresh flowers being shed,
Doth make them droop with grief and hang the head.