There, in a mantle of light green,
(Reserved, by custom, for that day)
PARTHENOPE, they did array!

And did create her, Summer's Queen;
And Ruler of their merry May!

ONE night, I did attend my sheep;
Which I, with watchful ward, did keep
For fear of wolves' assaulting.

For, many times, they broke my sleep;
And would into the cottage creep,
Till I sent them out halting!

At length, methought, about midnight,
(What time clear CYNTHIA shineth bright)
Beneath, I heard a rumbling.
At first, the noise did me affright:
But nought appeared in my sight;

Yet still heard something tumbling.

At length, good heart I took to rise,
And then myself crossed three times thrice;
Hence, a sharp sheephook raught!
I feared the wolf had got a prize;
Yet how he might, could not devise!
I, for his entrance sought.

At length, by moonlight, could I espy
A little boy did naked lie
Frettished, amongst the flock.

I, him approachèd somewhat nigh.
He groaned as he were like to die;
But falsely did me mock.

For pity, he cried, 'Well-a-day!
Good master, help me! if you may;
For I am almost starved!'
I pitied him, when he did pray,
And brought him to my couch of hay:
But guess as I was served!

He bare about him a long dart,
Well gilded with fine painter's art,
And had a pile of steel.

On it I lookèd every part.

Said I, 'Will this pile wound a heart?' 'Touch it!' quoth he, 'and feel!'

With that, I touched the javelin's point.
Eftsoons it piercèd to the joint!
And rageth now so fierce,

That all the balms which it anoint,
Cannot prevail with it, a point!

But it mine heart will pierce.

PHILLIDA AND CORIDON.

IN the merry month of May,
In a morn, by break of day,
Forth I walked by the wood-side,
When as May was in his pride.

There I spièd all alone
PHILLIDA and CORIDON.

Much ado there was, God wot!
He would love; and she would not.
She said,Never man was true!'
He said, 'None was false to you!'
He said, 'He had loved her long!'
She said, Love should have no wrong
CORIDON Would kiss her then.
She said, 'Maids must kiss no men,
Till they did for good and all! '

Then she made the Shepherd call
All the heavens, to witness truth!
Never loved a truer youth!

Thus, with many a pretty oath, 'Yea!' and 'Nay!' 'faith' and 'troth,' Such as silly Shepherds use,

When they will not love abuse;
Love, which had been long deluded,
Was, with sweet kisses, concluded:
And PHILLIDA, with garlands gay,
Was made the Lady of the May.

!'

PRETTY twinkling starry eyes!
How did Nature first devise
Such a sparkling in your sight
As to give LOVE such delight!
As to make him, like a fly,
Play with looks, until he die!

Sure, ye were not made at first,
For such mischief to be curst,
As to kill Affection's care,
That doth only truth declare.

Where Worth's wonders never wither;
LOVE and Beauty live together!

Blessed eyes! then, give your blessing!
That, in Passion's best expressing,
LOVE (that only lives to grace ye!)
May not suffer Pride deface ye;
But, in gentle thoughts' directions,
Show the praise of your perfections !

WHO can live in heart so glad
As the merry Country Lad!
Who, upon a fair green balk,
May, at pleasure, sit and walk;
And, amid the azure skies,
See the morning sun arise!
While he hears, in every Spring,
How the birds do chirp and sing;
Or, before the hounds in cry,
See the hare go stealing by;
Or, along the shallow brook,
Angling with a baitèd hook,
See the fishes leap and play,
In a blessed sunny day;
Or to hear the partridge call
Till she have her covey all;
Or to see the subtle fox,

How the villain plies the box!

After feeding on his prey;
How he closely sneaks away

Through the hedge, and down the furrow,

Till he gets into his burrow!
Then the bee to gather honey;
And the little black-haired coney,
On a bank, for sunny place,
With her forefeet wash her face:
Are not these, with thousands moe
Than the Courts of Kings do know,
The true pleasing spirit's sights,
That may breed true love's delights?