Classic Poem

Thy dainty corps fits better to receiue
The sweet imbracements of a louing friend,
Then to be made a morsell for the graue,
From whence againe it cannot be redeem'd:
Oh! that from thence it might be still exeem'd,
Thy beauty is too delicate a prey,
By lothsome wormes to be consum'd away.

Thus fearefull life did for her selfe protest,
Still seeking intertainment by delayes;
Till Honor mad to see her so possest,
With such inchanting, false, and Syren sayes,
Her conquering colours boldly forth displayes,
Into the face of life, and in this fort,
Her arguments and errors doth retort.

And what O life! and must thou too conspire
With her disgrace t'out-liue a glorious name?
Eye, destard, banish such a fond desire,
And blush thou didst conceit the same for shame,
I put the case thou passe the date of same,
And that thou scape th' insulting victors wrath,
Yet what assurance hast thou of thy breath?

Which like a dreame, a smoake, a vapor flyes,
Without assured or prefixed date,
How many well at morne or euening dies?
" Such is the frailty of our humaine state,
" Most certainly vncertaine of our fate.
Yet this we know for certaine, wee must dye,
When, where, or how, God knowes, vncertaine wee.

Then peeuish hagge, how dares thou thus presume,
With thy be-lying reasons to perswade,
This fortune-wronged Lady to see Rome,
As if no danger thereby might be had?
Shall it of Sophonisba (ah) be said,
That she to shunne a transitory paine,
Made choice to liue vnto her honours staine.

No, no, it were an vnaduised choise,
Great Queene, for thee to liue with such disgrace;
What more dishonour couldst thou do to those,
I meane to Syphax, Carthage , and thy race,
Then that thou shouldst now fearfully giue place
To lifes allurements, which doth seeke with shame,
To kill thee by the killing of thy fame?

Would not great Syphax blush to heare it told,
His soules chiefe minion, darling of his heart,
Tinroy whose loue, hee was so fondly bold,
From the great Romans friendship to depart,
Which makes him liue captiu'd in endlesse smart,
Should now to his eternall griefe be made,
A lustfull prey vnto a lawlesse bed?

And would not Romes Corriuall to be sorrie,
Great Carthage that her Sophonisba should
Be made a trophae to the Romane glorie,
Whose matchlesse beautie oft-times purchase could
Mo friends to her then all her wealth or gold,
It doubtlesse would breed in that famous cittie
More hate to her then either loue or pitty.

What would thy parents, friends, and kindred say,
If thou shouldst yeeld a captiue now to be?
But all bewaile the curst vnhappy day
Of thy conception and natiuitie:
Then drinke this potion, that thou maist set free
Thy matchles-noble mind from beeing thrall,
So shalt thou be most famous in thy fall.

Looke how we see on glassie Neptunes face,
Two warlike ships a furious fight begin,
Now flies the one, the other now takes chase,
Now by the loofe, now by lee they rin,
The liquid Mayne with their sharpe beakes they twin:
At length they grapple, and then boords in hast,
And who first enters backe againe is chac't.