Sonnet XIII. What time fair Titan in the zenith sat

William Smith (fl. 1596)

A Dream

WHAT time fair TITAN in the zenith sat

And equally the fixèd poles did heat;

When to my flock my daily woes I chat,

And underneath a broad beech took my seat:

The dreaming god, which MORPHEUS Poets call,

Augmenting fuel to my Etna’s fire,

With sleep possessing my weak senses all,

In apparitions makes my hopes aspire.

Methought I saw the Nymph I would embrace,

With arms abroad, coming to me for help:

A lust-led Satyr having her in chase;

Which after her, about the fields, did yelp.

I seeing my Love in perplexed plight,

A sturdy bat from off an oak I reft;

And with the ravisher continued fight

Till breathless I upon the earth him left.

Then when my coy Nymph saw her breathless foe,

With kisses kind she gratifies my pain;

Protesting never rigour more to show.

Happy was I this good hap to obtain.

But drowsy slumbers, flying to their cell,

My sudden joy convertèd was to bale.

My wontèd sorrows still with me do dwell.

I lookèd round about on hill and dale:

But I could neither my fair CHLORIS view;

Not yet the Satyr, which erst while I slew.