¶ The Nimph Seluagia her Song. +Printed in Yong, Diana (1598), pp. 29-30. Selvagia’s song precedes Sylvanus’s song (‘The Sheepheard Syluanus his Song’ * and Syrenus’s song (not printed in Englands Helicon ) while they all walk towards town at the end of Book I. A version of this song is also in Thomas Wilson’s 1596 translation of Diana , of which an autograph copy of the first book survives, L: Add. 18638. Author: Bartholomew Yong. Structure (May/Ringler): 20: 5×4 abaB4troch., refrain stanzas. 1,3,5.
S Heepheard, who can passe such wrong, And a life in woes so deepe? Which to liue is to too long, As it is too short to weepe.
(5) Greeuous sighs in vaine I wast, Leesing my affiancelosing my trust (in a person) , and I perceaue my hope at last with a candle in the hand.
What time then to hope among (10) bitter hopes, that neuer sleepe? When this life is to too long, as it is too short to weepe.
This greefe which I feele so rife,intensely (wretch) I doo deserue as hire:reward, payment (15) Since I came to put my life in the hands of my desire.
Then cease not my complaints so strong, for (though life her course dooth keepe:) It is not to liue so long, (20) as it is too short to weepe.
FINIS. Bar. Yong.
¶ The Heard-mans happie life. +For the music for this lyric, see Musical Settings . A copy lacking the first stanza, apart from the words ‘What pleasuer’, is in BL. Harley 4286, fol. 67v, probably copied from England’s Helicon . Other copies are in NLW: 473B, c. 1600, fols. 7v-8; L: Add. 31992, c. 1600, fol. 33. Author: attributed to William Byrd. Structure (May/Ringler): 30: 5×6 a7b6a7b6cc7
W Hat pleasure haue great Princes, more daintieesteem, honour, favour to their choice, Then Heardmen wilde, who carelesse,without anxiety, sorrow in quiet life reioyce?
