The Poetry of George Wither :: :: University of Virginia Library

Here Philaret did give his song an ending,
To which the nymphs so seriously attending
About him sat, as if they had supposed
He still had somewhat more to be disclosed:
And well they knew not whether did belong
Most praise unto the shepherd or his song;
For though, they must confess, they often hear
Those lays which much more deeply learned are,
Yet, when they well considered of the place,
With how unlikely in their thought it was
To give them hope of hearing such a strain,
Or that so young and so obscure a swain
Should such a matchless beauty's favour get,
And know her worth so well to sing of it,
They wondered at it, and some thus surmised
That he a greater man was, so disguised,
Or else that she whom he so much had praised
Some goddess was, that those his measures raised
Of purpose to that rare-attained height,
In envy's and presuming art's despite.

But whilst they musing with themselves bethought
Which way out of this shepherd to have wrought,
What nymph this fair one was, and where she lived,
Lo, at that very instant there arrived
Three men that by their habits courtiers seemed;
For, though obscure, by some he is esteemed
Among the greatest, who do not contemn
In his retired walks to visit him;
And there they taste those pleasures of the mind
Which they can nor in court nor city find.

167

Some news or message these new guests had brought him,
And to make haste away, it seems, besought him,
For instantly he rose, and that his nurture
Might not be taxed by a rude departure,
Himself excusing, he those nymphs did pray
His noble friends might bring them on their way:
Who, as it seems, he said, were therefore come
That they might wait upon them to their home.
So with their favour he departed thence,
And, as they thought, to meet her excellence
Of whom he sung. Yet many deem that this
But an idea of a mistress is,
Because to none he yet had deign'd the telling
Her proper name, nor shown her place of dwelling.

When he was gone a lady from among
Those nymphs took up his lute and sung this song.