[K4r]
(15) Came Phillida foorth of the wood, and stoode before the Swaine. Whom when the Sheepheard did behold, he straite began to weepe: And at the hart he grew a cold, (20) to thinke vpon his sheepe. For well he knew, where came the Queene, the Sheepheard durst not stay: And where that he durst not be seene, the sheepe must needes away. (25) To aske her if she saw his flock, might happen pacience mooue: And haue an aunswere with a mock, that such demaunders prooue. Yet for because he saw her come (30) alone out of the wood: He thought he would not stand as dombe, when speach might doo him good. And therefore falling on his knees, to aske but for his sheepe: (35) He did awake, and so did leesethe honour of his sleepe.
FINIS. N. Breton.
¶ The Sheepheards Ode. +
N Ights were short, and dayes were long, Blossomes on the Hawthorne hong, Philomell + (Night-Musiques King,) Told the comming of the Spring: (5) Whose sweete-siluer-sounding-voyce, Made the little birds reioyce, Skipping light from spray to spray, Till Aurora shew’d the day. Scarse might one see, when I might see (10) (For such chaunces sudden be.)