¶ Menaphon to Pesana. +Printed in Robert Greene, Menaphon (1589), sigs. G4v-H1, from the section where the love-sick Menaphon, disdained by Samela, is visited by his old mistress, Pesana , in his bedchamber, who reminds him of their former love ‘You knowe quoth Pesana where you might haue been let in long ere this, without either assalt oranie such battrie. With this the shephearde was mute, and Pesana ashamed: but at length regathering his spirites to bewray his martyrdome, and make his olde Mistresse some new musicke, he strained foorth this dittie’. Author: Robert Greene. Structure (May/Ringler): 24: 6×4 a10b5a10b5
F Aire fields proud Floraes vaunt +Boast of Spring, see glossary , why i’st you smile, when as I languish? You golden Meades, why striue you to beguile my weeping anguish? (5) I liue to sorrow, you to pleasure spring, why doo ye spring thus? What, will not Boreas tempests wrathfullangry King, take some pitty on vs? And send forth Winter in her rustie weede, (10) to waile my bemoaningslaments : While I distrest doo tune my Country Reedepipe vnto my groanings. But heauen and earth, time, place, and euery power, haue with her conspired: (15) To turne my blisfull sweete to balefull sowermiserable sourness , since I this desired. The heauen whereto my thoughts may not aspire, aye me vnhappie: It was my fault t’imbrace my banemy murderer, Samela the fire (20) that forceth me die. Mine be the paine, but hers the cruell cause, of this strange torment: Wherefore no time my banningcursing prayers shall pause. till proud she repent.
FINIS. Ro. Greene.
¶ A sweete Pastorall. +Printed in Brittons Bowre of Delights (1591, 1597), sig. B3v. Other copies in: L: Add. 34064, c. 1596, ff. 2v-3; H: MS Eng 1495, fol. 2v. Author: Nicholas Breton. Structure (May/Ringler): 40: 10×4 ab6a8b6
G Ood Muse rock me a sleepe, with some sweet Harmonie: This wearie eye is not to keepe thy warie companie.
