EnglandsHelicon I3v

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[I3v]

ΒΆ An excellent Pastorall Dittie. +

A Carefull Nimph, with carelesse greefe opprest, vnder the shaddow of an Ashen tree: With Lute in hand did paint out her vnrest, vnto a Nimph that bare her companie. (5) No sooner had she tuned euery string: But sob’d and sigh’d, and thus began to sing.
Ladies and Nimphs, come listen to my plaint, on whom the cheerefull Sunne did neuer rise: If pitties stroakes your tender breasts may taint, (10) come learne of me to wet your wanton eyes. For Loue in vaine the name of pleasure beares: His sweet delights are turned into feares.
The trustlesse shewes, the frights, the feeble ioyes, the freezing doubts, the guilefull promises: (15) The feigned lookes, the shifts, the subtill toyes, the brittle hope, the stedfast heauines. The wished warre in such vncertaine peace: These with my woe, my woes with these increase.
Thou dreadfull God, + that in thy Mothers lap +(20) doo’st lye and heare the crie of my complaint, And seest, and smilest at my sore mishap, that lacke but skill my sorrowes heere to paint: Thy fire from heauen before the hurt I spide, Quite through mine eyes into my brest did glide.
(25) My life was light, my blood did spirt and spring, my body quicke, my hart began to leape: And euery thornie thought did prick and sting, the fruite of my desired ioyes to reape. But he on whom to thinke, my soule still tyers: (30) In bale forsooke, and left me in the bryers.
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