HARPALUS' COMPLAINT OF PHILLIDA'S LOVE BESTOWED ON CORIN, WHO LOVED HER NOT, AND DENIED HIM THAT LOVED HER. 1 Phillida was a fair maid, As fresh as any flower; Whom Harpalus the herdman pray'd 2 Harpalus, and eke Corin, Were herdmen both yfere:1 3 But Phillida was all too coy 4 How often would she flowers twine, 5 But Corin he had hawks to lure, 6 Harpalus prevailèd nought, His labour all was lost; For he was furthest from her thought, 'Yfere:' together.-Forced:' cared for. 7 Therefore was he both pale and lean, His flesh it was consumed clean; 8 His beard it not long be shave; 9 His eyes were red, and all forwacht; 2 His face besprent with tears: It seem'd unhap had him long hatcht, 10 His clothes were black, and also bare; 11 His beasts he kept upon the hill, And thus with sighs and sorrows shrill 12 'O Harpalus!' thus would he say; The cause of thine unhappy day 13 For thou went'st first by suit to seek A tiger to make tame, That sets not by thy love a leek, 1 'Shent:' spoiled.-2 Forwacht:' from much watching. 14 As easy it were for to convert The frost into the flame; As for to turn a froward hert, 15Ccrin he liveth careless: He leaps among the leaves: 16 My beasts, a while your food refrain, And hark your herdman's sound; Whom spiteful love, alas! hath slain, Through girt with many a wound. 17 'O happy be ye, beastës wild, That here your pasture takes: I see that ye be not beguiled Of these your faithful makes.” 18 The hart he feedeth by the hind: The buck hard by the doe: The turtle-dove is not unkind To him that loves her so. 19 'The ewe she hath by her the ram: The young cow hath the bull: The calf with many a lusty lamb Do feed their hunger full. 20 'But, well-a-way! that nature wroug Thee, Phillida, so fair: For I may say that I have bought 1 'Makes:' mates. 21 What reason is that cruelty With beauty should have part? Should dwell in woman's heart? 22 I see therefore to shape my death She cruelly is prest, 1 To the end that I may want my breath: 23 O Cupid, grant this my request, 24 Of Corin that is careless, That she may crave her fee: 25 'But since that I shall die her slave, 26" Here lieth unhappy Harpalus, Whom Phillida unjustly thus 1Prest:' ready. A PRAISE OF HIS LADY. 1 Give place, you ladies, and begone, 2 The virtue of her lively looks I wish to have none other books 3 In each of her two crystal eyes It would you all in heart suffice 4 I think Nature hath lost the mould 5 She may be well compared Whose like was never seen nor heard, 6 In life she is Diana chaste, In word, and eke in deed, steadfast: 7 If all the world were sought so fai, |