List, I beg, provided you're in humour,
Speak your privacy, show what alley veils you.
You I sought on Campus, I, the lesser,
You on Circus, in all the bills but you, sir.
You with father Jove in holy temple.
Then, where flocks the parade to Magnus' arches,
Friend, I hail'd each lady promenader,
Each, I found, did face me quite sedately.
What? they steal, I loudly cried protesting,
My Camerius? out upon the wenches!
Answer'd one and lightly bared a bosom,
'See! what bowery roses; here he hides him.'
Yea 'twould task e'en Hercules to bear you,
You so scornful, friend, in your refusing.
Not tho' I were warder of the Cretans,
Not tho' Pegasus on his airy pinion,
Perseus feathery-footed, I a Ladas,
Rhesus' chariot yok'd to snowy coursers,
Add each feathery sandal, every flying
Power, ask fleetness of all the winds of heaven,
Mine, Camerius, and to me devoted;
Yet with drudgery sorely spent should I, yet
Worn, outworn with languor unto languor
Faint, O friend, in an empty quest to find you.
Say, where think you anon to be; declare it,
Fair and free, submit, commit to daylight.
What? still thrall to the lovely lily ladies?
Keep close mouth, lock fast the tongue within it,
Love's felicity falls without fruition;
Venus still is free to talk, a babbler.
Yet close palate, an if ye will it; only
In my love some part to bear refuse not.