DORASTUS AND FAWNIA. 75
old head a thousand new devises : at last he fell into these thoughtes.
How art thou pestred Pandosto with fresh affections, and unfitte fancies, wishing to possesse with an unwilling mynd, and a hot desire troubled with a could disdaine? Shall thy mynde yeeld in age to that thou hast resisted in youth ? Peace Pandosto, blabbe not out that which thou maiest be ashamed to reveale to thy self. Ah Fawnia is beautifull, and it is not for -thine honour (fond foole) to name her that is thy Captive, and another mans Concubine. Alas, I reach at that with my hand which my hart would fain refuse; playing like the bird Ibys in Egipt, which hateth Serpents, yet feedeth on their egges. Tush, hot desires turne oftentimes to colde disdaine: Love is brittle, where appetite, not reason, beares the sway: Kinges thoughtes ought not to climbe so high as the heavens, but to looke no lower then honour : better it is to pecke at the starres with the young Eagles, then to pray on dead carkasses with the Vulture : tis more honourable for Pandosto to dye by concealing Love, than to enjoy such unfitte Love. Dooth Pandosto then love? Yea: whome? A maide unknowne, yea, and perhapps immodest, stragled out of her owne countrie; beautifull, but not therefore chast; comely in bodie, but perhappes crooked in minde. Cease then Pandosto to looke at Fawnia, much lesse to love her: be not overtaken with a womans beauty, whose eyes are framed by arte to inamour, whose hearte is framed by nature to inchaunt, whose false teares knowe their true times, and whose sweete wordes pearce deeper then sharpe swordes.
Here Pandosto ceased from his talke, but not from his love: although he sought by reason and wisedome to suppresse this franticke affection : yet he could take no rest, the beautie of Fawnia had made such a