Merry wanderer,
Search not the place you are here given.
But there, tie your beast.
***
We have advertised here by secret means,
that if your wits are about,
and having found the proper numbers of the usual game,
you may make your way;
and thus, enter the wildwood to follow the points o’ the compass.
***
O, search not by the inconstant moon, and
we pray thee, stay upon the trodden path,
and you shall find the casketed treasure near,
and set it free from its cavity.
***
Herein follows the perplexity:
Full many a glorious morning have I seen
Flatter the mountain-tops with sovereign eye,
Kissing with golden face the meadows green,
Gilding pale streams with heavenly alchemy;
The beast that bears me, tired with my woe,
Plods dully on, to bear that weight in me,
As if by some instinct the wretch did know
His rider lov'd not speed being made from thee.
Ten times thyself were happier than thou art,
If ten of thine ten times refigured thee.
Then what could death do if thou shouldst depart,
Leaving thee living in posterity?
More flowers I noted, yet I none could see
But sweet or colour it had stol'n from thee.
Music to hear, why hear’st thou music sadly?
Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy.
Why lov’st thou that which thou receiv’st not gladly,
Or else receiv’st with pleasure thine annoy?
Gentle thou art, and therefore to be won;
Beauteous thou art, therefore to be assailed;
And when a woman woos, what woman’s son
Will sourly leave her till he have prevailed?
But when my glass shows me myself indeed,
Beated and chopped with tanned antiquity,
Mine own self-love quite contrary I read;
Self so self-loving were iniquity.
And him as for a map doth nature store,
To show false art what beauty was of yore.