University of Virginia Library


495

[Diana, Loue, and my faire Shepherdesse]

Diana, Loue, and my faire Shepherdesse,
Did in the field their chiefest cunning trie,
By shooting arrowes at a tree neere by,
Whose barke a painted hart did there expresse:
Diana stakes her beautie mercilesse,
Cupid his bowe, Argia her libertie:
Who shewed in her shot a quicker eie,
A better grace, more courage, and successe:
And so did she Dianas beautie win,
And Cupids weapons, by which conquer'd prize
So faire and cruell she hath euer bin,
That her sweete figure from my wearied eies,
And from my painfull hart her cruell bowe
Haue stolne my life and freedome long agoe.