Reason, tell me thy mind, if here be reason
In this strange violence, to make resistance.
Where sweet graces erect the stately banner
Of vertues regiment, shining in harnesse
Of fortunes Diademes, by beauty mustred.
Say then Reason, I say what is thy counsell?
Her loose haire be the shott, the breaste the pykes be,
Skowts each motion is, the hands be horsmen,
Her lipps are the riches the warres to maintaine,
Where well couched abides a coffer of pearle,
Her legges carriage is of all the sweet campe:
Say then Reason I say what is thy counsell?
Her cannons be her eys, myne eys the walls be,
Which at firste voly gave too open entry,
Nor ramper did abide; my braine was up blowne,
Undermin’d with a speech the pearcer of thoughts.
Thus weakned by my selfe, no helpe remaineth
Say then Reason; I say, what is thy counsell?
And now fame the herald of her true honour,
Doth proclaime with a sound made all by mens mouths
That nature soverayne of earthly dwellers,
Commands all creatures, to yeeld obeysance
Under this, this her owne, her only dearling.
Say then Reason I say what is thy counsell?
Reason sighes but in end he thus doth answere.
Nought can reason availe in heav’nly matters.
Thus natures Diamond receaves thy conquest,
Thus pure pearle, I do yeeld, my senses and soule.
Thus sweete paine, I do yeeld, what ere I can yeelde,
Reason looke to thy selfe, I serve a goddesse.