TO THE RIGHT worthy and noble Knight

Sir VValter Raleigh, Captaine of her Maiefties
Guard, Lord Wardein of the Stanneries,
and Lieutenant of the Countie of
Cornwall.

SIR, that you may fee that I am not alwaies ydle as yee thinke, though not greatly well occupied, nor altogither vndutifull, though not precifely officious, I make 10 you prefent of this fimple paftorall, vnworthie of your higher conceit for the meaneffe of the file, but agreeing with the truth in circumftance and matter. The which I humbly befeech you to accept in part of paiment of the infinite debt in which I acknowledge my felfe bounden vnto you, for your fingular fauours and fundrie good turnes fhewed to me at my late being in England, and with your good countenance protect against the malice of

euill mouthes, which are alwaies wide open to carpe at and mifconftrue my fimple meaning.

I pray continually for your happinese. From my house. of Kilcolman, the 27. of December.

1591.

Yours euer humbly.

Ed. Sp.

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COLIN CLOVTS

come home againe.

He fhepheards boy (best knowen by
that name)

That after Tityrus firft fung his lay,
Laies of fweet loue, without rebuke

or blame,

Sate (as his cuftome was) vpon a day,

Charming his oaten pipe vnto his peres,

The fhepheard fwaines, that did about him play:
Who all the while with greedie liftfull eares,
Did ftand aftonifht at his curious skill,

Like hartleffe deare, difmayed with thunders found.

At laft when as he piped had his fill,

He refted him: and fitting then around,

One of those groomes (a iolly groome was he,

As euer piped on an oaten reed,

And lou'd this fhepheard dearest in degree,
Hight Hobbinol) gan thus to him areed.

Colin my liefe, my life, how great a loffe
Had all the fhepheards nation by thy lacke?
And I poore fwaine of many greateft croffe :
That fith thy Mufe firft fince thy turning backe

ΙΟ

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Was heard to found as fhe was wont on hye,
Haft made vs all fo bleffed and fo blythe.
Whileft / thou waft hence, all dead in dole did lie:
The woods were heard to waile full many a fythe,
And all their birds with filence to complaine:
The fields with faded flowers did feem to mourne,
And all their flocks from feeding to refraine :
The running waters wept for thy returne,
And all their fish with languour did lament:

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But now both woods and fields, and floods reuiue,
Sith thou art come, their cause of meriment,
That vs late dead, haft made againe aliue :

But were it not too painfull to repeat
The paffed fortunes, which to thee befell
In thy late voyage, we thee would entreat,
Now at thy leisure them to vs to tell.

To whom the shepheard gently answered thus,
Hobbin thou temptest me to that I couet :

For of good passed newly to discus,

By dubble vfurie doth twife renew it.
And fince I faw that Angels blessed eie,
Her worlds bright fun, her heauens fairest light,
My mind full of my thoughts fatietie,

Doth feed on sweet contentment of that fight:
Since that fame day in nought I take delight,
Ne feeling haue in any earthly pleasure,
But in remembrance of that glorious bright,
My lifes fole blisse, my hearts eternall threasure.
Wake then my pipe, my fleepie Muse awake,
Till I haue told her praises lasting long :
Hobbin defires, thou maist it not forfake,
Harke then ye iolly fhepheards to my song.

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