12 When lusty bloods in fresh array Hear ten months after of the play: And this is Love, as I hear say. MELI. Yet what is Love, good shepherd, sain? FAUST. It is a sunshine mix'd with rain, It is a tooth-ache, or like pain, It is a game, where none doth gain; The lass saith no, and would full fain: And this is Love, as I hear sain. MELI. Yet, shepherd, what is Love, I pray? FAUST. It is a yea, it is a nay, A pretty kind of sporting fray, It is a thing will soon away, 18 10 15 20 25 18 27 What if I beat the wanton boy With many a rod? He will repay me with annoy, Then sit thou safely on my knee, Spare not, but play thee. ENGLAND'S HELICON -THOM. LODGE (1558?-1625) THE HERDMAN'S HAPPY LIFE What pleasure have great princes Their dealings plain and rightful, Are void of all deceit; They never know how spiteful It is to kneel and wait On favourite presumptuous, Whose pride is vain and sumptuous. All day their flocks each tendeth, At night they take their rest, More quiet than who sendeth His ship into the east, Where gold and pearl are plenty, But getting very dainty. For lawyers and their pleading, They 'steem it not a straw; They think that honest meaning, Is of itself a law; Where conscience judgeth plainly, Oh, happy who thus liveth! Not caring much for gold; With clothing which sufficeth, To keep him from the cold. Though poor and plain his diet, Yet merry it is and quiet. - OUT OF M. BIRD'S SET SONGS 36 12 18 24 And we will sit upon the rocks, And I will make thee beds of roses, And a thousand fragrant posies, A gown made of the finest wool, With buckles of the purest gold; A belt of straw and ivy buds, 131 The shepherd swains shall dance and sing THE NYMPH'S REPLY TO THE If all the world and love were young, Time drives the flocks from field to fold, The flowers do fade, and wanton fields 8 12 16 20 24 12 |