University of Virginia Library

A Sheepheards dreame.

A silly Sheepheard lately sate
among a flock of Sheepe:
Where musing long on this and that,
at last he fell a sleepe.
And in the slumber as he lay,
he gaue a pitteous groane:
He thought his sheepe were runne away,
and he was left alone.
He whoopt, he whistled, and he call'd,
but not a sheepe came neere him:
Which made the Sheepheard sore appall'd,
to see that none would heare him.
But as the Swaine amazed stood,
in this most solemne vaine:
Came Phillida foorth of the vvood,
and stoode before the Swaine.
Whom when the Sheepheard did behold,
he straite began to weepe:
And at the hart he grew a cold,
to thinke vpon his sheepe.
For well he knew, where came the Queene,
the Sheepheard durst not stay:
And where that he durst not be seene,
the sheepe must needes away.
To aske her if she saw his flock,
might happen pacience mooue:
And haue an aunswere with a mock,
that such demaunders prooue.
Yet for because he saw her come
alone out of the vvood:
He thought he would not stand as dombe,
vvhen speach might doo him good.
And therefore falling on his knees,
to aske but for his sheepe:
He did awake, and so did leese
the honour of his sleepe.