Through thicke and thinne, all night, all day, the
Withouten comfort, companie, or guide, [drived,
Her plaints and teares with euery thought reuiued,
She heard and faw her greefes, but nought befide.
But when the funne his burning chariot diuedi d I
In Thetis wauve, and wearie teame vntide, 1A)
On Iordans fandie banks her course the staid,
At laft, there downe fhe light, and downe the laid.
Her teares, her drinke; her food, her forrowings, This was her diet that vnhappie night:
But fleepe (that sweet repofe and quiet brings) a To ease the greefes of difcontented wight, li Spread foorth his tender, foft, and nimble wings, In his dull armes foulding the virgin bright;
And loue, his mother, and the graces kept Strong watch and warde, while this faire Ladie flept.
The birds awakte her with their morning fong, I Their warbling musicke pearst her tender care, The murmuring brookes and whistling windes
The ratling boughes, and leaves, their partsdid beate; Her eies vnclos'd beheld the groues along [weare; Of swaines and fhepherd groomes, that dwellings And that fweet noife, birds winds, and waters fent, Prouokte again the virgin to lament.
Her plaints were interrupted with a found,
That feem'd from thickest bushes to proceed,
Some iolly fhepherd fung a luftie round,
And to his voice had tun'd his oaten reed
Thither she went, an old man there the found,
(At whofe right hand his little flock did feed)
Sat making baskets, his three fonnes among, Lin That learn'd their father's art, and learn'd his fong!
Beholding one in thining armes appeare
The feelie man and his were fore dismaid;
But fweet Erminia comforted their feare,
Her ventall vp, her vifage open laid,
You happie folke, of heau'n beloued deare,
Work on (quoth fhe) upon your harmleffe traid,
Thefe dreadfull armes I beare no warfare bring oth To your fweet toile, nor thofe fweet tunes you fing.
But father, fince this land, these townes and towres,
Deftroied are with fword, with fire and spoile,T
How may it be unhurt, that you and yours: ad i
In fafetie thus, applie your harmleffe toiled T
My fonne (quoth he) this pore eftate of ours
Is euer safe from storm of warlike broilean I
This wilderneffe doth vs in fafetie keepe, [fleepe.
No thundring drum, no trumpet breakes tour
Haply iuft heau'ns defence and fhield of right,
Doth loue the innocence of fimple fwains,
The thunderbolts on highest mountains light,n
And feld or newer strike the lower plaines
So kings haue caufe to feare Bellonaes might, o
Not they whofe fweat and toile their dinner gaines,
Nor ever greedie foldier was entifed
O pouertie, chefe of the heau'nly brood,
Dearer to me than wealth or kingly crowne
No with for honour, thirft of others good,
Can moue my hart, contented with mine owne zi
We quench our thirst with water of this flood,
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Nor fear we poison fhould therein be throwne A
These little flocks of fheepe and tender goates
Giue milke for food, and wool to make us coates.
We little with, we need but little wealth,
From cold and hunger vs to cloath and feed; if
These are my fonnes, their care preferues from stealth
Their father's flocks, nor fervants inoe I need: W
Amid thefe groues I walke oft for my health, A
And to the fishes, birds, and beastes giue heed,
How they are fed, in forreft, fpring and lake,
And their contentment for enfample take, T
Time was (for each one hath his doting time,
These filuer locks were golden treffes than)
That countrie life I hated as a crime,
And from the forrefts fweet contentment ran,
To Memphis' ftately pallace would I clime,
And there became the mightie Caliphes man,
And though I but a fimple gardner weare,
Yet could I marke abuses, fee and heare.
Entifed on with hope of future gaine,
I fuffred long what did my foule displease;
But when my youth was spent, my hope was vaine,
I felt my native ftrength at last decrease;
I gan my loffe of luftie yeeres complaine,
And wifht I had enjoy'd the countries peace;
I bod the court farewell, and with content
My later age here have I quiet spent.
While thus he fpake, Erminia hufht and still
His wife difcourfes heard, with great attention, I
His fpeeches graue thofe idle fancies kill,
Which in her troubled foule bred fuch diffention;
After much thought reformed was her will,
Within those woods to dwell was her intention,
Till fortune fhould occafion new afford,
To turne her home to her defired Lord.
She said therefore, O fhepherd fortunate !
That troubles fome didft whilom feele and proue,
Yet liueft now in this contented ftate,
Let my mishap thy thoughts to pitie moue,
To entertaine me as a willing mate
In fhepherd's life, which I admire and loue; Within these pleasant groues perchance my hart, Of her discomforts, may vnload some part.
If gold or wealth of most esteemed deare,
If iewels rich, thou diddest hold in prise,
Such store thereof, fuch plentie haue I seen,
As to a greedie minde might well fuffice:
With that downe trickled many a filuer teare,
Two christall ftreames fell from her watrie eies;
Part of her fad misfortunes than she told,
And wept, and with her wept that fhepherd old.
With speeches kinde, he gan the virgin deare
Towards his cottage gently home to guide;
His aged wife there made her homely cheare,
Yet welcomde her, and plast her by her fide.
The Princeffe dond a poore pastoraes geare,
A kerchiefe courfe vpon her head she tide;
But yet her geftures and her lookes (I geffe)
Were fuch, as ill befeem'd a fhepherdeffe.
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