University of Virginia Library

Another Song before her Maiestie at Oxford, sung by a comely Sheepheard, attended on by sundrie other Sheepheard and Nimphs.

Hearbs , words, and stones, all maladies haue cured,
Hearbs words, and stones, I vsed when loued:
Hearbs smells, words winde, stones hardnes haue procured,
By stones, nor words, nor hearbs her mind was moued.
I ask'd the cause: this was a womans reason,
Mongst hearbs are weedes, and thereby are refused:
Deceite as well as trueth speakes words in season,
False stones by foiles haue many one abused.
I sigh'd, and then she sayd, my fancie smoaked,
I gaz'd, she sayd, my lookes were follies glauncing:
J sounded dead, she sayd, my loue was choaked,
I started vp, she sayd, my thoughts were dauncing.
Oh sacred Loue, if thou haue any Godhead:
Teach other rules to winne a maydenhead.