University of Virginia Library

A DIALOGUE BETWEENE TWO SHEPHERDS, utterd in a pastorall shew, at Wilton.

Will.
Dick , since we cannot dance, come let a chearefull voyce
Shew that we do not grudge at all when others do rejoyce.

Dick.
Ah Will, though I grudge not, I count it feeble glee
With sight made dymme with dayly teares anothers sport to see.
Who ever Lambkins saw (yet lambkins love to play)
To play when that their loved dammes, are stoln or gone astray?
If this in them be true, as true in men think I
A lustles song for sooth thinks hee that hath more lust to cry.

Will.
A tyme there is for all, my Mother often sayes,
When she with skirts tuckt very hy, with girles at stoolball playes.
When thou hast mynd to weepe, seeke out som smoky room:
Now let those lightsomme sights we see thy darknes overcome.

Dick.
What joy the joyfull sunne gives unto bleared eyes:
That comfort in these sports you like, my mynde his comfort tryes.

Will.
What? is thy Bagpipe broke, or are thy lambs miswent;
Thy wallet or thy Tarbox lost, or thy new rayment rent?

Dick.
I would it were but thus, for thus it were too well.

Will.
Thou seest my eares do itch at it: good Dick thy sorow tell.

Dick.
Here then and learne to sigh: a mistress I doo serve,
Whose wages makes me beg the more, who feeds me till I sterve,
Whose lyverie is such, as most I freeze apparelled most,
And lookes so neere unto my cure that I must needes be lost.

Will.
What? these are riddles sure, art thou then bound to her?

Dick.
Bound as I neither power have, nor would have power to stir.

W.
Who bound thee?

D.
Love my Lord.

W.
What witnesses therto?

Dick.
Faith in my self and worth in her, which no proofe can undoo.

W.
What seale?

D.
my hart deepe graven.

W.
who made the band so fast?

D.
Wonder that by two so black eyes the glittring stars be past.

Will.
What keepeth safe thy band?

D.
Remembrance is the Chest
Lockt fast with knowing that she is, of worldly things the best.

Will.
Thou late of wages playn'dst: what wages mayst thou have?

D.
Her heavenly looks, which more and more do give me cause to crave.

W.
If wages make you want, what food is that she gives?

D.
Teares drink, sorowes meat, wherewith, not I, but in me my death lives.

Will.
What living get you then?

D.
Disdayne; but just disdayne.
So have I cause my selfe to plaine, but no cause to complayne.

Will.
What care takes shee for thee?

D.
Hir care is to prevent
My freedom, with show of hir beames, with virtue my content.

Will.
God shield us from such Dames. If so our Downes be sped,
The shepheards will grow leane I trow, their sheep will ill be fed.
But Dick my counsell marke: run from the place of wo:
The Arrow being shot from far, doth give the smaller blowe.

Dick.
Good Will, I cannot take thy good advice, before
That Foxes leave to steale, because they finde they dy therefore.

Will.
Then Dick let us go hence lest wee great folkes annoy.
For nothing can more tedious bee, then plaint, in time of joy.

Dick.
Oh hence! o cruell word! which even doggs do hate:
But hence, even hence, I must needes goe; such is my dogged fate.