Demen
What remedy
Can possibly be found, since he that can
Ease me and none but he, is separated
At such a distance from me? and besides
Th'unhoped for lenity of those which gave
Sentence against him hath destroyed my hopes.
I would he had suffered death, for then in me
Had quenched been the flames of burning love.
Hope that is past removes grief from the heart,
And when despair possesseth troubled minds
They intermit all sorrow building on
Th'impossibility of their enjoying;
But as it is methinks I see and hear
Cnemon complaining of my cruelty,
And how by unjust guiles I did ensnare him;
Sometimes me thinks he comes to me as if
⟨image 19⟩I should enjoy him, other times I bend
My course to him where ere he lives remote;
These things inflame me, these things make me mad,
But O ye gods, I have as I deserve;
Why did I not with good will seek to win him
Rather then by deceit and craft compel him?
Why did I not most humbly sue unto him
Rather then wrong him like an enemy?
It may be at the first he did deny me
For maiden modesty, and fear to foul
His fathers sheets, but had I persevered
Unto the end, he might have been allured
To condescend by fair means to my will;
But O my Thisbe tell me, tell me quickly
What remedy is that thou wouldst devise
For me and sayest is easy?
Demen
What remedy
Can possibly be found, since he that can
Ease me and none but he, is separated
At such a distance from me? and besides
Th'unhop'd for lenity of those which gave
Sentence against him hath destroyd my hopes.
I would he had suffered death, for then in me
Had quenched beene the flames of burning love.
Hope that is past removes griefe from the heart,
And when despaire possesseth troubled minds
They intermit all sorrow building on
Th'impossibility of their enjoying;
But as it is methinkes I see and heare
Cnemon complayning of my cruelty,
And how by unjust guiles I did ensnare him;
Sometimes me thinks he comes to me as if
⟨image 19⟩I should enjoy him, othertimes I bend
My course to him where ere he lives remote;
These things enflame me, these things make me mad,
But O ye gods, I have as I deserve;
Why did I not with good will seeke to win him
Rather then by deceit and craft compell him?
Why did I not most humbly sue unto him
Rather then wrong him like an enemy?
It may be at the first he did deny me
For maiden modesty, and feare to foule
His fathers sheets, but had I persever'd
Unto the end, he might have beene allur'd
To condescend by faire meanes to my will;
But O my Thisbe tell me, tell me quickly
What remedy is that thou wouldst devise
For me and saist is easie?
