¶ Cinthia the Nimph, her Song to faire Polydora. +Printed in Yong, Diana (1598), pp. 36-8. Sylvanus, Selvagia and Syrenus secretly listen to the songs of three nymphs, Doria, Polydora and Cynthia, the latter relates to the others the farewell she once overheard between Syrenus and Diana, as requested by Polydora ‘Faire Cynthia … so may thy destinies and fortune fauour thee, as thy beauty and good graces are no lesse delightfull vnto vs, then the hearing of so sweete a song shall be… if thou wilt deyne to pleasure vs with the recitall of it. Cynthia then taking her harpe, began to sing as followeth’. Author: Bartholomew Yong. Structure (May/Ringler): 72: 12×6, sx8
N Eere to the Riuer banks, with greene And pleasant trees on euery side, Where freest minds would most haue beene, That neuer felt braue Cupids pride, (5) To passe the day and tedious howers: Amongst those painted meades and flowers.
A certaine Sheepheard full of woe, Syrenus call’d, his flocks did feede: Not sorrowfull in outward show, (10) But troubled with such greefe indeede, As cruell Loue is wont t’impart Vnto a painefull louing hart.
This Sheepheard euery day did die, For loue he to Diana bare: (15) A Sheepheardesse so fine perdiepar dieu, by God, without doubt , So liuely, young, and passingsurpassing, outstanding faire, Excelling more in beauties feature: Then any other humane creature.
WhoVVho had not any thing, of all (20) She had, but was extreame in her, For meanely wise none might her call, Nor meanely faire, for he did erre If so he did: but should deuise H er name of passingsurpassing, outstanding faire and wise.
(25) Fauours on him she did bestow, Which if she had not, then be sure H e might haue suffered all that woe Which afterward he did endure When he was gone, with lesser paine: (30) And at his comming home againe.