¶ To his Flockes. +Printed in Henry Chettle, Piers Plainnes seaven yeres prentiship ( 1595), sigs. B2-2v, where it is prefaced by ‘ Piers Plainnes (for so was Menalcas mans name) hauing set his sheepe to feede, founde himself no little worke with platting wheate strawe for summer bonnet, to to beare off the violence of the Sunnes beames: while his fingers went, his tonge lay not still, but thus to his sheepe and himselfe he sung’. For the music for this lyric, see Musical Settings . Author: Henry Chettle. Structure (May/Ringler): 10: aa7bb4troch.c9dd7ee4troch.c9
F Eede on my Flockes securely, Your Shepheard watcheth surely, Runne about my little Lambs, Skip and wantonplay with your Dammes, (5) Your louing Heard with care will tend ye: Sport on faire flocks at pleasure, Nip Vestaes flowring treasure, +the grass, see glossary I my selfe will duely harkelisten , When my watchfull dogge doth barke, (10) From Woolfe and Foxe I will defend ye.
FINIS. H. C.
¶ A Roundelay betweene two Shepheards. +First printed in England’s Helicon , but later published with variants as part of Drayton’s ninth eclogue in Poemes Lyrick and Pastorall (1606), sigs. G4v-5, where it takes the form of a dialogue between Motto and Perkin, ‘Motto: Tell me thou skilfull shepheards Swayne,/Who’s yonder in the vally set?’ Author: Michael Drayton. Structure (May/Ringler): 28: 7×4 abab8
1. Shep. T Ell me thou gentle Shepheards Swaine, Who is younder in the Vale is setsat ?
2. Shep. Oh it is she, whose sweetes doe staineobscure the lustre, beauty of The Lilly, Rose, the Violet.
1. Shep. (5) Why doth the Sunne against his kindnature , Fixe his bright Chariot in the skies?
2. Shep. Because the Sunne is strooken blinde, With looking on her heauenly eyes.
1. Shep. Why doe thy flockes forbearedo without their food, (10) Which sometime were thy chiefe delight?
