]
"Phoebe to Ganymede wisheth what she wants herself.
Fair shepherd--and therefore is Phoebe infortunate, because thou art
so fair--although hitherto mine eyes were adamants to resist love, yet
I no sooner saw thy face, but they became amorous to entertain love;
more devoted to fancy than before they were repugnant to affection,
addicted to the one by nature and drawn to the other by beauty: which,
being rare and made the more excellent by many virtues, hath so
snared the freedom of Phoebe, as she rests at thy mercy, either to be
made the most fortunate of all maidens, or the most miserable of all
women. Measure not, Ganymede, my loves by my wealth, nor my desires by
my degrees; but think my thoughts as full of faith, as thy face of
amiable favors. Then, as thou knowest thyself most beautiful, suppose
me most constant. If thou deemest me hard-hearted because I hated
Montanus, think I was forced to it by fate; if thou sayest I am
kind-hearted because so lightly I love thee at the first look, think I
was driven to it by destiny, whose influence, as it is mighty, so is
it not to be resisted. If my fortunes were anything but infortunate
love, I would strive with fortune: but he that wrests[1] against the
will of Venus, seeks to quench fire with oil, and to thrust out one
thorn by putting in another.
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