EnglandsHelicon L1v | Verse Miscellanies Online

[L1v]

Scarse had he these last words spoken, But me thought his hart was broken, With great greefe that did abound,  (Cares and greefe the hart confound.) In whose hart thus riu’driven, split  in three, Eliza  written I might see +See Barnfield, ‘Preface’,  Cynthia , sig. A3-3v: ‘In one or two places                         (in this Booke) I vse the name of  Eliza  pastorally: wherein, lest any one should misconster my meaning (as I hope none will)                         I haue here briefly discouered my harmeles conceipt…’ In Caracters of crimson blood, Whose meaning well I vnderstood.  Which, for my hart might not behold: I hiedhurried  me home my Sheepe to fold. 

FINIS. Rich. Barnefielde.

¶ The Sheepheards commendation of his Nimph. +reprinted from Phoenix Nest , where it appears as ‘What cunning can express’ *. Here it has been altered to ‘fit’ the pastoral mode of England’s Helicon . Another copy is in L: Harley 4286, fol. 70v. Author: attributed to Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford. Structure (May/Ringler): 42: 7×6 sx6

W Hat Sheepheard can expresse The fauour of her face? To whom in this distresse I doo appeale for grace.  A thousand  Cupids  flye About her gentle eye. 

From which each throwes a dart, That kindleth soft sweet fire Within my sighing hart,  Possessed by desire. Nosweeter life I trie Then in her loue to die. 

The Lilly in the field, That glories in his white:  For purenes now must yeeld And render vp his right. Heauen pictur’d in her face, Dooth promise ioy and grace. 

Faire Cinthiaes siluer light, (20) That beates on running streames: