When night's black Mantle could most darkness prove,
And sleepe (deaths Image) did my senses hyre,
From Knowledge of my selfe, then thoughts did move
Swifter than those, most switnesse neede require?
In sleepe, a chariot drawn by wind'd Desire,
The speaker, Pamphilia (Meaning all-loving) the Queen of Pamphilia, has fallen asleep, and her senses have been taken over, most likely through dreams. However, through reminding us that sleep is the ‘cousin of death’ we can assume that sleep and dreams have negative connotations.
When nights black mantle could most darkness prove