| |
| YOUTH, full of error! whither dost thou hail me? | |
| Down to the dungeon of mine own conceit! | |
| Let me, before, take some divine receipt; | |
| For well I know, my Gaoler will not bail me! | |
| Then, if thou favour not, all helps will fail me! | 5 |
| That fearful dungeon, poisoned with Despair, | |
| Affords no casement to receive sweet air; | |
| There, ugly visions ever will appall me, | |
| Vain Youth misguideth soon, with Love’s deceit! | |
| Deeming false paintèd looks most firmly fair. | 10 |
| Now to remorseless judges must I sue | |
| For gracious pardon; whiles they do repeat | |
| Your bold presumption! threatening me, with you! | |
| Yet am I innocent, though none bewail me! | |
| Ah, pardon! pardon! Childish Youth did view | 15 |
| Those two forbidden apples, which they wished for! | |
| And children long for that, which once they rue. | |
| Suffice, he found Repentance! which he fished for, | |
| With great expense of baits and golden hooks. | |
| Those living apples do the suit pursue! | 20 |
| And are you Judges? See their angry looks! | |
| Where, underneath that wrathful canopy, | |
| They use to open their condemning books! | |
| Expect now, nothing but extremity! | |
| Since they be Judges, and in their own cause | 25 |
| Their sights are fixed on nought but cruelty: | |
| Ruling with rigour, as they list! their laws. | |
| O grant some pity! (placed in Pity’s Hall!) | |
| Since our Forefather (for the like offence) | |
| With us, received sufficient recompense | 30 |
| For two fair apples, which secured his fall. | |
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