University of Virginia Library

[Come Espilus, come now declare thy skill]

Therion.
Come Espilus, come now declare thy skill,
Shew how thou canst deserve so brave desire,
Warme well thy wits, if thou wilt win her will,
For water cold did never promise fire:
Great sure is she, on whom our hopes do live,
Greater is she who must the judgement give.

Espilus.
Tune up my voice, a higher note I yeeld,
To high conceipts the song must needes be high,
More high then stars, more firme then flintie field
Are all my thoughts, on which I live or die:
Sweete soule, to whom I vowed am a slave,
Let not wild woods so great a treasure have.

Therion.
The highest note comes oft from basest mind,
As shallow brookes do yeeld the greatest sound,
Seeke other thoughts thy life or death to find;
Thy stars be fal'n, plowed is thy flintie ground:
Sweete soule let not a wretch that serveth sheepe,
Among his flocke so sweete a treasure keepe.

Espilus.
Two thousand sheepe I have as white as milke,
Though not so white as is thy lovely face,
The pasture rich, the wooll as soft as silke,
All this I give, let me possesse thy grace,
But still take heede least thou thy selfe submit
To one that hath no wealth, and wants his wit.

Therion.
Two thousand deere is wildest woods I have,
Them can I take, but you I cannot hold:
He is not poore who can his freedome save,
Bound but to you, no wealth but you I would:
But take this beast, if beasts you feare to misse,
For of his beasts the greatest beast he is.