The Louer excuseth himselfe for renowncing his Loue and Ladie, imputing the same to his fate and constellation

THough Dydo blamde Aeneas truth
for leauing Carthage shore,
Where he well entertainde had béene,
and like a Prince before:
Though Theseus were vnthriftie thought
and of a cruell race,
That in rewarde of death escapte
by Aryadnas Lace,
Amid the desart woods so wilde
his loouing Lasse forsooke,
Whome by good hap and luckie lore
the drowsie Bacchus tooke.
Yet if the Iudges in this case
their verdit yéelde aright,
Nor Theseus nor Aeneas fact
deserue such endlesse spight,
As waywarde Women stirde to wrath
beare fixed fast in minde,
Still seeking wayes to wreake their yre
vpon Aeneas kinde.
For neither lack of liking loue,
nor hope of greater gaine,
Nor fickle fansies force vs men
to breake off friendships chaine.
They loth not that they looude before,
they hate not things possest:
Some other weightie cause they haue
of chaunge, as may be gest.
And waying with my selfe eche one,
I can none fitter finde,
Than that to men such blessed hap
is by the Gods assignde.
The golden Starres that guide their age,
and Planets will them so:
And Gods (the Rulers of their race)
procure them to forgo
Their forged faith and plighted truth,
with promise made so sure,
That is too séeming strong as Stéele,
and likely to endure.
For did not mightie Ioue himselfe
the swift Cyllenus sende
To will the Troyan Prince in haste
into Italia bende
And leaue the lyked lande so well,
and Carthage Quéene forsake,
That made him owner of hir hart,
and all that shée could make?
And such was Theseus lot perdie,
so hard the Maydens hap,
That shée in desart should be left
and caught in Bacchus trap.
Should Iason be proclaimde and cride
a Traitor to the Skies
For that he Medea left at last
by whome he wan the Flise?
No, such was Oetes Daughters chaunce
in Cradle hir assignde,
And Iasans Birthstarre forst the Gréeke
to showe himselfe vnkinde:
For if rewardes might binde so fast,
and knit the knot so sure,
Their faith (no doubt) and lincked loue
should then of force endure.
For Dido gaue him Carthage Kayes,
the wealth, and soile withall:
Those other two preserude their liues
that else had liude in thrall.
Then sithens streaming Starres procure,
and fatall powers agree,
And stawled Gods doe condiscend
that I my friendship flee:
And reaue your Bells and cast you off
to liue in haggards wies,
That for no priuate stale doe care,
but loue to range the Skies:
I must not séeme then to rebell
nor secret Treason forge,
But chaunge my choyce, and leaue my looue
and fansies fonde disgorge.
I craue of Cupid Lorde of loue
a pardon for the same,
For that I now reiect his lawes
and quite renownce his game.