True, for none more true can be,

Then still to love, and none but thee.
Say Galate, oft smile and say,

"Twere pity Love should have a nay:
But such a word of comfort give,
And Tityrus thy Love shall live:

Or with a piercing frown reply,

I cannot live, and then I die,

For Lover's nay, is Lover's death!

And heart-break frowns doth stop the breath.

Galate at this arose,

And with a smile away she goes,

As one that little car'd to ease

Tityrus, pain'd with Love's disease.

At her parting, Tityrus

Sighed amain, and said thus:

"O that women are so fair,

To trap mens' eyes in their hair,

With beauteous eyes, Love's fires,

Venus' sparks that heats desires:

But, oh! that women have such hearts,

Such thoughts, and such deep piercing darts,

As in the beauty of their eye,

Harbour nought but flattery:

Their tears are drawn that drop deceit,

Their faces calends of all sleight,

Their smiles are lures, their looks guile,

And all their love is but a wile!

Then Tityr leave, leave Tityrus
To love such as scorns you thus:

And say to Love, and women both,
What I liked, now I do loath."

With that he hied him to the flocks,

And counted Love but Venus' mocks.

THE SONG OF A COUNTRY SWAIN AT THE

RETURN OF PHILADOR.

From the same.

THE silent shade had shadowed every tree,

And Phoebus in the west was shrouded low:
Each hive had home her busy labouring bee,
Each bird the harbour of the night did know;
Even then,

When thus,

All things did from their weary labour lin,

Menalcas sate and thought him of his sin.

His head on hand, his elbow on his knee,

And tears, like dew, be-drencht upon his face,
His face as sad as any Swains' might be:

His thoughts and dumps befitting well the place,
Even then,

When thus,

Menalcas sate in passions all alone:

He sighed then, and thus he 'gan to moan.

"I that fed flocks upon Thessalia plains,

And bade my lambs to feed on daffodil;

That liv'd on milk and curds, poor Shepherds' gains, And merry sate, and pip'd upon a pleasant hill:

Even then,

When thus,

I sate secure, and fear'd not Fortune's ire,
Mine eyes eclipst, fast blinded by Desire.

Then lofty thoughts began to lift my mind;
I grudg'd and thought my fortune was too low;
A Shepherd's life 'twas base and out of kind;
The tallest cedars have the fairest grow.

Even then,

When thus,

Pride did intend the sequel of my ruth,

Began the faults and follies of my youth.

I left the fields, and took me to the town;

Fold sheep who list; the hook was cast away;
Menalcas would not be a country clown,

Nor Shepherd's weeds, but garments far more gay.
Even then,

When thus,

Aspiring thoughts did follow after ruth,
Began the faults and follies of my youth.

My suits were silk, my talk was all of state;
I strecht beyond the compass of my sleeve;
The bravest courtier was Menalcas' mate;
Spend what I would, I never thought on grief.
Even then,

When thus,

I lasht out lavish, then began my ruth;
And then I felt the follies of my youth.

I cast mine eye on every wanton face,
And straight Desire did hail me on to Love;
Then, Lover-like, I pray'd for Venus' grace,
That she my mistress' deep affects might move.
Even then,

When thus,

Love trapt me in the fatal bands of ruth,

Began the faults and follies of my youth.

No cost I spar'd to please my Mistress' eye,
No time ill-spent in presence of her sight;
Yet oft we frown'd, and then her love must die;
But when she smil'd, oh, then a happy wight;
Even then,

When thus,

Desire did draw me on to deem of ruth;

Began the faults and follies of my youth.

The day in poems often did I pass,

The night in sighs and sorrows for her grace;
And she as fickle as the brittle glass,

Held sun-shine showers within her flattering face.

Even then,

When thus,

I spy'd the woes that womens' loves ensu'th;

I saw, and loath the follies of my youth.

I noted oft that Beauty was a blaze;

I saw that Love was but a heap of cares,

That such as stood as deer do at the gaze,

And sought their wealth amongst Affection's thares.

Even such,

I saw,

Which hot pursuit did follow after ruth,

And fostered up the follies of their youth.