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THEORELLO.
A Sheepheards Edillion.
You Sheepheards which on hillocks sit,
like Princes in their throanes:
And guide your flocks, which else would [illeg.]
your flocks of little ones:
Good Kings haue not disdained it,
but Sheepheards haue beene named:
A sheepe-hooke is a Scepter sit,
for people well reclaimed.
The Sheepheards life so honoured is and praised:
That Kings lesse happy seeme, though higher raised
like Princes in their throanes:
And guide your flocks, which else would [illeg.]
your flocks of little ones:
Good Kings haue not disdained it,
but Sheepheards haue beene named:
A sheepe-hooke is a Scepter sit,
for people well reclaimed.
The Sheepheards life so honoured is and praised:
That Kings lesse happy seeme, though higher raised
The Sommer Sunne hath guilded faire,
with morning rayes the mountaines:
The birds doo caroll in the ayre,
and naked Nimphs in Fountaines.
The Siluanes in their shagged haire,
with Hamadriades [illeg.]ace:
The shadie Satires make a Quiere,
which rocks with Ecchoes grace.
All breathe delight, all solace in the season:
Not now to sing, were enemie to reason.
with morning rayes the mountaines:
The birds doo caroll in the ayre,
and naked Nimphs in Fountaines.
The Siluanes in their shagged haire,
with Hamadriades [illeg.]ace:
The shadie Satires make a Quiere,
which rocks with Ecchoes grace.
All breathe delight, all solace in the season:
Not now to sing, were enemie to reason.
Cosma my Loue, and more then so,
the life of mine affections:
Nor life alone, but Lady too,
and Queene of their directions.
Cosma my Loue, is faire you know,
and which you Sheepheards know not:
Is (Sophi said) thence called so,
but names her beauty showe not.
Yet hath the world no better name then she:
And then the world, no fairer thing can be.
the life of mine affections:
Nor life alone, but Lady too,
and Queene of their directions.
Cosma my Loue, is faire you know,
and which you Sheepheards know not:
Is (Sophi said) thence called so,
but names her beauty showe not.
Yet hath the world no better name then she:
And then the world, no fairer thing can be.
The Sunne vpon her sore-head stands,
(or iewell Sunne-like glorious,)
Her fore-head wrought with Joues owne hands,
for heauenly white notorious:
Her golden lockes like Hermus sands,
(or then bright Hermus brighter:)
A spangled Cauill binds in with bands,
then siluer morning lighter.
And if the Planets are the chiefe in skies:
No other starres then Planets are her eyes.
(or iewell Sunne-like glorious,)
for heauenly white notorious:
Her golden lockes like Hermus sands,
(or then bright Hermus brighter:)
A spangled Cauill binds in with bands,
then siluer morning lighter.
And if the Planets are the chiefe in skies:
No other starres then Planets are her eyes.
Her cheeke her lip, fresh cheeke, more fresh,
then selfe-blowne buds of Roses:
Rare lip, more red then those of flesh,
which thousand sweetes encloses:
Sweet breath, which all things dooth refresh,
and words than breath farre sweeter:
Cheeke firme, lip firme, not fraile nor nesh,
as substance which is fleeter.
In praise doo not surmount, although in placing:
Her christall necke, round breast, and armes embracing.
then selfe-blowne buds of Roses:
Rare lip, more red then those of flesh,
which thousand sweetes encloses:
Sweet breath, which all things dooth refresh,
and words than breath farre sweeter:
Cheeke firme, lip firme, not fraile nor nesh,
as substance which is fleeter.
In praise doo not surmount, although in placing:
Her christall necke, round breast, and armes embracing.
The thorough-shining ayre I weene,
is not so perfect cleare:
As is the skie of her faire skinne,
whereon no spots appeare.
The parts which ought not to be seene,
for soueraigne woorth excell:
Her thighs with Azure braunched beene,
and all in her are well.
Long Iuorie hands, legges straighter then the Pine:
Well shapen feete, but vertue most diuine.
is not so perfect cleare:
As is the skie of her faire skinne,
whereon no spots appeare.
The parts which ought not to be seene,
for soueraigne woorth excell:
Her thighs with Azure braunched beene,
and all in her are well.
Long Iuorie hands, legges straighter then the Pine:
Well shapen feete, but vertue most diuine.
Nor cloathed like a Sheepheardesse,
but rather like a Queene:
Her mantle dooth the formes expresse,
of all which may be seene.
Roabe fitter for an Empresse,
then for a Sheepheards loue:
Roabe sit alone for such a Lasse,
as Emperours doth moue.
Roabe which heauens Queene, the bride of her owne brother,
Would grace herselfe with, or with such another.
but rather like a Queene:
Her mantle dooth the formes expresse,
of all which may be seene.
Roabe fitter for an Empresse,
then for a Sheepheards loue:
as Emperours doth moue.
Roabe which heauens Queene, the bride of her owne brother,
Would grace herselfe with, or with such another.
Who euer (and who else but Ioue)
embroidered the same:
Hee knew the world, and what did moue,
in all the mightie frame.
So well (belike his skill to proue)
the counterfeits he wrought:
Of vvood-Gods, and of euery groaue,
and all which else was ought.
Is there a beast, a bird, a fish worth noate?
Then that he drew, and picturde in her coate.
embroidered the same:
Hee knew the world, and what did moue,
in all the mightie frame.
So well (belike his skill to proue)
the counterfeits he wrought:
Of vvood-Gods, and of euery groaue,
and all which else was ought.
Is there a beast, a bird, a fish worth noate?
Then that he drew, and picturde in her coate.
A vaile of Lawne like vapour thin
vnto her anckle trailes:
Through which the shapes discerned bin,
as too and fro it sailes.
Shapes both of men, who neuer lin
to search her wonders out:
Of monsters and of Gods a kin,
which her empale about.
A little world her flowing garment seemes:
And who but as a wonder thereof deemes?
vnto her anckle trailes:
Through which the shapes discerned bin,
as too and fro it sailes.
Shapes both of men, who neuer lin
to search her wonders out:
Of monsters and of Gods a kin,
which her empale about.
A little world her flowing garment seemes:
And who but as a wonder thereof deemes?
For heere and there appeare forth towers,
among the chalkie downes:
Citties among the Country bowers,
vvhich smiling Sun-shine crownes.
Her mettall buskins deckt with flowers,
as th'earth when frosts are gone:
Besprinckled are with Orient showers
of hayle and pebble stone.
Her feature peerelesse, peerelesse her attire,
I can but loue her loue, with zeale entire.
among the chalkie downes:
Citties among the Country bowers,
vvhich smiling Sun-shine crownes.
Her mettall buskins deckt with flowers,
as th'earth when frosts are gone:
Besprinckled are with Orient showers
of hayle and pebble stone.
Her feature peerelesse, peerelesse her attire,
I can but loue her loue, with zeale entire.
O who can sing her beauties best,
or that remaines vnsung?
Doe thou Apollo tune the rest,
vnworthy is my tongue.
To gaze on her, is to be blest,
so wondrous fayre her face is;
Her fairenes cannot be exprest,
in Goddesses nor Graces.
I loue my loue, the goodly worke of Nature:
Admire her face, but more admire her stature.
or that remaines vnsung?
Doe thou Apollo tune the rest,
vnworthy is my tongue.
To gaze on her, is to be blest,
so wondrous fayre her face is;
Her fairenes cannot be exprest,
in Goddesses nor Graces.
I loue my loue, the goodly worke of Nature:
Admire her face, but more admire her stature.
On thee (O Cosma) will I gaze,
and reade thy beauties euer:
Delighting in the blessed maze,
which can be ended neuer.
For in the luster of thy rayes,
appeares thy parents brightnes:
Who himselfe infinite displaies
in thee his proper greatnes.
My song must end, but neuer my desire:
For Cosma [illeg.] fire.
and reade thy beauties euer:
Delighting in the blessed maze,
which can be ended neuer.
For in the luster of thy rayes,
appeares thy parents brightnes:
Who himselfe infinite displaies
in thee his proper greatnes.
My song must end, but neuer my desire:
For Cosma [illeg.] fire.
FINIS.
E. B.
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