¶ To his Flockes. +Printed in John Dowland, The First Book of Songs or Airs (1597), song 8, see Musical Settings . Another copy in H: MS Eng 1491 (4), ii, fol. 265. Author: attributed to John Dowland. Structure (May/Ringler): 15: 3×5 ababB10
B Vrst forth my teares, assist my forwardeager griefe, And shew what paine imperious Loue prouokes Kinde tender Lambs lament Loues scant reliefe, And pine, since pensiue caremelancholy grief my freedome yoakes, +Rollins points out that this should be ‘locks’ to fit with the rhyme scheme and context. (5)Oh pine, to see me pine, my tender Flockes.
Sad pining caregrief , that neuer may haue peace, At Beauties gate, in hope of pittie knocks: But mercie sleepes, while deepe disdaines encrease, And Beautie hope in her faire bosome yoakes: (10)Oh grieue to heare my griefe, my tender Flockes.
Like to the windes my sighs haue winged beene, Yet are my sighs and sutes repaide with mocks: I pleade, yet she repineth at my teenecomplains about my expressions of injury , O ruthlesse rigourpitiless severity, harshness , harder then the Rockes, (15)That both the Shepheard kills, and his poore Flockes.
FINIS.
¶ To his Loue. +For the music for this lyric, see Musical Settings . Author: attributed to John Dowland. Structure (May/Ringler): 30: 3×10 a3dact.b6a3dact.b6cddcee4troch.
C Ome away, come sweet Loue, The golden morning breakes: All the earth, all the ayre, Of loue and pleasure speakes.