Which made the Shepherd sore appall'd To see that none would hear him. But as the swain amazed stood, In this most solemn vein, Came Phillida forth of the wood, And stood before the swain: Whom when the Shepherd did behold, He straight began to weep: And at the heart he grew a-cold, To think upon his sheep. For well he knew, where came the Queen, The Shepherd durst not stay: And where that he durst not be seen, The sheep must needs away. That such demanders prove. Alone out of the wood, He thought he would not stand as dumb, To ask but for his sheep, He did awake, and so did leese The honour of his sleep. ANOTHER OF THE SAME. By the same. SAY that I should say, I love ye? But if Love in prayers move ye, Think I think that Love should know ye? Will ye think 'tis but a thinking? But if Love the thought do show ye, Will ye loose your eyes with winking? Write that I do write you blessed, Will you write, 'tis but a writing? But if Truth and Love confess it, Will ye doubt the true enditing? No, I say, and think, and write it, Write, and think, and say your pleasure: Love, and Truth, and I endite it, You are blessed out of measure. NLESS the Editor labours under a long-continued error of taste, there is something in the character of the Lyric compositions of NICHO Spe LAS BRETON, which exhibits peculiar traits of elegance and airiness. Mr. G. Ellis, in his " cimens of early English Poets," has inserted eight pieces of this author in his second volume. 1. “A Farewell to Folly," beginning, "Since secret spite hath sworn my woe." 2. "Lines abridged from Thirty-nine Stanzas," beginning, "Not long ago, as I at supper sat." 3. "A Pastoral of Phillis and Coridon," here also printed, beginning, "On a hill there grows a flower." 4. "Phillida and Coridon," also in these pages, be ginning, "In the merry month of May." 5. "The Shepherd's Address to his Muse," as here, beginning, "Good Muse, rock me asleep." 6. "A Quarrel with Love," beginning, 7. "On the Death of Spenser," beginning, "Mournful Muses, Sorrow's minions." 8. "A sweet Contention between Love, his Mistress, and Beauty," beginning, "Love and my Mistress were at strife." Dr. Percy has also inserted No 4, in his "Ballads," and Mrs. Cooper has given one of those extracts in her "Muses Library." In his "Sir Philip Sydney's Ourania,"a BRETON certainly means himself by the character of Endymion, of whom he thus speaks: "Well could he sing divine and sacred lays, With blessed notes as poets did record, As made them leave their food to listen well, Satyrs and Sylvans at the harmony Sometimes come darting from the darksome grove,b Approving oft the chanting melody; And with their harsh and rural voices strove To sound the praises of celestial Jove; a London, printed by Ed. Allde, for Edward White, 1606. 4to. b This reminds us of a beautiful passage in "Collins's Ode to the Passions." |