Schule und Unterricht 133 111 O for my sake do you with Fortune chide, The guilty goddess of my harmful deeds, That did not better for my life provide Than public means which public manners breeds. 4 Thence comes it that my name receives a brand, And almost thence my nature is subdued To that it works in, like the dyer’s hand. Pity me then, and wish I were renewed, 8 Whilst like a willing patient I will drink Potions of eisel ’gainst my strong infection; No bitterness that I will bitter think, No double penance to correct correction. 12 Pity me then, dear friend, and I assure ye Even that your pity is enough to cure me. 1 Fortune: The Roman goddess presiding over good and bad luck. The young man reproves her for the sake of the poet 1 chide: rebuke, scold 2 guilty goddess: It is the goddess who is made responsible for some things the poet has done and which have caused him troubles. 4 public means: It may mean «governmental means»; it may also mean «income from the public», for instance the public stage. It may mean both at the same time 4 public manners: in this case it rather means «vulgar», causing inappropriate behaviour 5 brand: stigma, in Elizabethan times the hand or face of a criminal was branded with a hot iron 6 is subdued: cannot escape; is subject to 10 Potions of easel: medicine mixed with vine- gar, often used against the plague and other 12 double penance: I will not be against suf- fering twice the punishment