Daphnis and Chloe Excellently describing the weight of affection, the simplicitie of loue, the purport of honest meaning, the resolution of men, and disposition of Fate, finished in a Pastorall, and interlaced with the praises of a most peerlesse Princesse, wonderfull in Maiestie, and rare in perfection, celebrated within the same Pastorall, and therefore termed by the name of The Shepheards Holidaie. By Angell Daye |
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[Ye heauens (if heauens haue power to iudge of things amisse)] |
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 | Daphnis and Chloe |  |
[Ye heauens (if heauens haue power to iudge of things amisse)]
Ye heauens (if heauens haue power to iudge of things amisse)Ye earthlie guides that swaie and rule, the stem of all my blisse,
Ye starres if you can iudge, ye Planets if ye knowe
Of haynous wrongs, that tendred beene to men on earth belowe,
Then iudge, repute, & deeme, giue sentence and diuine
Of all the wo that rues my hart, and causlesse makes me pine,
If right to men of right belongs with equall doome,
Then heauens I pray admit my teares, and do my plaints resume,
Your sacred powre it is that yeeldes me bale or boote:
The sighs I spend are else but waste, and vaine is all my sute.
I loue, alas, I loue, and loued long I haue,
My loue to labour turned is, my hope vnto the graue,
My fruit is time mispent, mispending breedes my gaine,
My gaine is ouer-rulde by losse, and losse breedes all my paine,
Here my gastly ghost could halt or go awrie,
I aske no fauour for my sute, but let me starue and die,
By seruice long that nere should be shut vp by any time.
Yf onely zeale I beare to that I most desire
And choice reguard of purest thoughts hath set my heart on fire
Why should not my reward conformed be with those
Whose liues at happiest rate are led and craue aright suppose
If this be all I seeke, if sole for this I serue
Then heauens vouchsafe to graunt me this els let me die and sterue.
| Daphnis and Chloe | |