Page:Metamorphoses (Ovid, 1567).djvu/216

 Should his owne sworde and not my Love be meanes to win it by? It were yet better he should speede by gentle meanes without The slaughter of his people, yea and (as it may fall out) With spending of his owne bloud too. For sure I have a care O Minos lest some Souldier wound thee ere he be aware. For who is he in all the world that hath so hard a hart That wittingly against thy head would aime his cruell Dart? I like well this devise, and on this purpose will I stand: To yeelde my selfe endowed with this Citie to the hand Of Minos: and in doing so to bring this warre to ende. But smally it availeth me the matter to intende. The gates and yssues of this towne are kept with watch and warde, And of the Keyes continually my Father hath the garde. My Father only is the man of whome I stand in dreede, My Father only hindreth me of my desired speede. Would God that I were Fatherlesse. Tush, everie Wight may bee A God as in their owne behalfe, and if their hearts be free From fearefulnesse. For fortune works against the fond desire Of such as through faint heartednesse attempt not to aspire. Some other feeling in hir heart such flames of Cupids fire Already would have put in proofe some practise to destroy What thing so ever of hir Love the furtherance might anoy And why should any woman have a bolder heart than I? Through fire and sword I boldly durst adventure for to flie. And yet in this behalfe at all there needes no sword nor fire, There needeth but my fathers haire to accomplish my desire. I That Purple haire of his to me more precious were than golde: That Purple haire of his would make me blest a thousand folde: That haire would compasse my desire and set my heart at rest. Night (chiefest Nurce of thoughts to such as are with care opprest) Approched while she spake these words, and darknesse did encrease Hir boldnesse. At such time as folke are wont to finde release Of cares that all the day before were working in their heds, By sleepe which falleth first of all upon them in their beds, Hir fathers chamber secretly she entered: where (alasse That ever Maiden should so farre the bounds of Nature passe) She robde hir Father of the haire upon the which the fate