 | The Works of William Mason |  |
I.
“ Ah! luckless swain, alas! how art thou lorn,“Who once like me could'st frame thy pipe to play
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“Ne bush, ne breere, but learnt thy roundelay,
“Ah plight too sore such worth to equal right!
“Ah worth too high to meet such piteous plight!
II.
“But I nought strive, poor Colin, to compare“My Hobbin's or my Thenot's rustic skill
“To thy deft swains, whose dapper ditties rare
“Surpass ought else of quaintest shepherd's quill.
“Ev'n Roman Tityrus, that peerless wight,
“Mote yield to thee for dainties of delight.
III.
“Eke when in Fable's flow'ry paths you stray'd,“Masking in cunning feints truth's splendent face;
“Ne Sylph, ne Sylphid, but due tendance paid,
“To shield Belinda's lock from felon base,
“But all mote nought avail such harm to chace.
“Then Una fair 'gan droop her princely mien,
“Eke Florimel, and all my faery race:
“Belinda far surpast my beauties sheen,
“Belinda, subject meet for such soft lay, I ween.
IV.
“Like as in village troop of birdlings trim,“Where Chanticleer his red crest high doth hold,
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“And turkeys proud, and pigeons nothing bold;
“If chance the peacock doth his plumes unfold,
“Eftsoons their meaner beauties all decaying,
“He glist'neth purple and he glist'neth gold,
“Now with bright green, now blue himself arraying.
“Such is thy beauty bright, all other beauties swaying.
V.
“But why do I descant this toyish rhyme,“And fancies light in simple guise pourtray,
“Listing to chear thee at this rueful time,
“While as black Death doth on thy heartstrings prey?
“Yet rede aright, and if this friendly lay
“Thou nathless judgest all too slight and vain,
“Let my well-meaning mend my ill essay:
“So may I greet thee with a nobler strain,
“When soon we meet for aye, in yon star-sprinkled plain.”
| The Works of William Mason | |