POEMS FROM ARCADIA

As far from want, as far from vain expense
(The one doth force, the latter doth entice),
Allow good company, but keep from thence
All filthy mouths that glory in their vice.
This done, thou hast no more, but leave the rest
To virtue, fortune, time, and woman's breast.

A Country Song

THE lad Philisides

Lay by a river side,
In flowery field a gladder eye to please:

His pipe was at his foot,

His lambs were him beside,
A widow turtle near on bared root

Sat wailing without boot.

Each thing both sweet and sad

Did draw his boiling brain

To think and think with pain
Of Mira's beams, eclipst by absence bad.

And thus, with eyes made dim
With tears, he said, or sorrow said for him:

*O earth, once answer give,

So may thy stately grace
By north or south still rich adorned live;

So Mira long may be

On thy then blessed face,
Whose foot doth set a heaven on cursed thecj

I ask, now answer me,

If the author of thy bliss,

Phoebus, that shepherd high,

Do turn from thee his eye,
Doth not thyself, when he long absent is,

Like rogue, all ragged go,
And pine away with daily wasting woe?

Tell me, you wanton brook;

So may your sliding race
Shun loath&d-loving banks with cunning crook;

So in you ever new

Mira may look her face,
And make you fair with shadow of her hue;

Sq when to pay your due

To mother sea you come,