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[L3r]

Meli. Yet what is Loue, I pre-thee say?

Fau. It is a worke on holy-day, It is December match’d with May,  When lustie-bloods in fresh aray, Heare ten moneths after of the play, And this is Loue, as I heare say. 

Meli. Yet what is Loue, good Sheepheard saine?

Fau. It is a Sun-shine mixt with raine,  It is a tooth-ach, or like paine, It is a game where none dooth gaine, The Lasse saith no, and would full faine: +Like, say yes, a commonplace, see also line 20. And this is Loue, as I heare saine.told 

Meli. Yet Sheepheard, what is Loue, I pray?

Fau.  It is a yea, it is a nay, A pretty kind of sporting frayamorous skirmish , It is a thing will soone away, Then Nimphs take vantage while ye may: And this is loue as I heare say. 

Meli. (25) Yet what is loue, good Shepheard show?

Fau. A thing that creepes, it cannot goe, A prize that passeth too and fro, A thing for one, a thing for moe, And he that proouestries it  shall finde it so;  And Sheepheard this is loue I troein truth . 

FINIS. Ignoto.

¶ To his Flocks. +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 Flocks securely, Your Sheepheard watcheth surely, Runne about my little Lambs, Skip and wantonplay  with your Dammes,  Your louing Heard with care will tend ye: Sport on faire flocks at pleasure, Nip  Vestaes  flowring treasure, +The grass, see  glossary  