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[C2v]

¶ Milicertus Madrigale.

+printed in Robert Greene, Menaphon (1589), sig. F2v-3, sung to Samela and introduced with ‘If Samela, quoth hee, thou hadst enjoined me as Juno did to Hercules, most daungerous labours, I would haue discouered my loue by obedience, and my affection by death: yet let me craue this, that as I begunne with a Sonnet, so I may ende with a Madrigale. Content Melicertus quoth she, for none more than I loue Musique. Upon this replie the shepheard proud folowed this Dittie.’ Reprinted in John Hind, The most excellent historie of Lysimachus and Varrona (1604), sig. E1v. Author: Robert Greene. Structure (May/Ringler): 24: 4×6 abab10cc6

W Hat are my Sheepe, without their wontedaccustomed  food? What is my life, except I gaine my Loue? My Sheepe consumewaste away , and faint for want of blood, My life is lost vnlesse I  Grace  approue.  No flower that saplesse thriues, No Turtle without phearefere, companion, mate . 

The day without the Sunne doth lowerlour, frown, scowl  for woe, Then woe mine eyes, vnlesse they beauty see: My Sonne  Samelaes  eyes, by whom I know,  Wherein delight consists, where pleasures be. Nought more the heart reuiues, Then to embrace his Deere. 

The starres from earthly humoursvapours, moisture  gaine their light, Our humoursmoods, states of mind  by their light possesse their power:  Samelaes  eyes fed by my weeping sight, Infuse my paines or ioyes, by smile or lowerlouer, frown, scowl . So wendsproceeds  the source of loue, It feedes, it failes, it ends. 

Kinde lookes, cleare to your Ioy, behold her eyes,  Admire her heart, desire to tast her kisses: In them the heauen of ioy and solace lyes, Without them, euery hope his succour misses. Oh how I liue to proue, Whereto this solace tends? 

FINIS. Ro. Greene.