'Boy,' she said, 'look on me! Still I gaze upon thee! Speak, I pray thee, my delight!' Coldly he replied,

And, in brief, denied

To bestow on her a sight.

'I am now too young

To be won by Beauty!
Tender are my years,

I am yet a bud!’

'Fair thou art!' she said;

'Then it is thy duty,

Wert thou but a blossom,

To effect my good!

Every beauteous flower
Boasteth in my power!

Birds and beasts my laws effect!
MYRRHA, thy fair mother,
Most of any other,

Did my lovely hests respect!
Be with me delighted;

Thou shalt be requited!

Every Nymph on thee shall tend! All the Gods shall love thee! Man shall not reprove thee! LOVE himself shall be thy friend!'

'Wend thee from me, VENUS!

I am not disposed!

Thou wring'st me too hard!

Prithee, let me go!
Fie! what a pain it is,
Thus to be enclosed!

If love begin with labour;
It will end in woe!'
'Kiss me! I will leave!'
Here, a kiss receive!'

'A short kiss I do it find!
Wilt thou leave me so?
Yet thou shalt not go!
Breathe once more thy balmy wind!
It smelleth of the myrrh-tree,
That to the world did bring thee!
Never was perfume so sweet!'
When she had thus spoken,
She gave him a token;

And their naked bosoms meet.

Now,' he said, 'let's go! Hark, the hounds are crying! Grisly boar is up!

Huntsmen follow fast!'

At the name of boar,

VENUS seemed dying!

Deadly coloured pale,

Roses overcast.

'Speak,' said she, 'no more Of following the boar; Thou, unfit for such a chase!

Course the fearful hare!

Ven'son, do not spare!
If thou wilt yield VENUS grace,
Shun the boar, I pray thee!

Else I still will stay thee!' Herein, he vowed to please her mind; Then her arms enlarged!

Loth she him discharged. Forth he went, as swift as wind!

THETIS, PHOEBUS' steeds

In the west retained,

Hunting sport was past;

Love her Love did seek! Sight of him too soon, Gentle Queen, she gained!

On the ground he lay,

Blood had left his cheek,

For an orpèd swine

Smit him in the groin!
Deadly wound, his death did bring.
Which, when VENUS found,

She fell into a swound:
And, awaked, her hands did wring!
Nymphs and Satyrs skipping,
Came together tripping.

ECHO every cry exprest.

VENUS, by her power,

Turned him to a flower;

Which she weareth in her crest.

I.

TO HIS FLOCKS.

FEED on, my flocks, securely!
Your Shepherd watcheth surely!
Run about, my little lambs!

Skip and wanton with your dams!
Your loving Herd with care will tend ye!

Sport on, fair flocks, at pleasure!
Nip VESTA'S flow'ring treasure!
I myself will duly hark,

When my watchful dog doth bark!
From wolf and fox, I will defend ye!

MINE eye, with all the Deadly Sins is fraught. First Proud, sith it presumed to look so high! A watchman being made, stood gazing by, 2. And Idle, took no heed, till I was caught. 3. And Envious bears envy that by thought

Should, in his absence, be to her so nigh. 4. To Kill my heart, mine eye let in her eye; And so consent gave to a murder wrought! 5 And Covetous, it never would remove

From her fair hair; gold so doth please his sight! 6. Unchaste, a bawd between my heart and love. 7. A Glutton eye, with tears drunk every night!

These sins procurèd have à Goddess' ire; Wherefore my heart is damned in Love's sweet fire!

DAMELUS' SONG TO HIS DIAPHENIA.

DIAPHENIA, like the daffadowndilly,
White as the sun, fair as the lily:
Heigh-ho! how I do love thee!

I do love thee as my lambs

Are beloved of their dams!
How blest were I! if thou wouldst prove me.

DIAPHENIA, like the spreading roses,
That in thy sweets, all sweets encloses!
Fair Sweet! how I do love thee!
I do love thee as each flower

Loves the sun's life-giving power!

For, dead, thy breath to life might move me!

DIAPHENIA, like to all things blessed,
When all thy praises are expressèd.
Dear Joy! how I do love thee!

As the birds do love the Spring,
Or the bees their careful King!
Then, in requite, sweet Virgin, love me!