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3.

Through thicke and thinne, all night, all day, the
Withouten comfort, companie, or guide, [driued,
Her plaints and teares with euery thought reuiued,
She heard and faw her greefes, but nought befide.
But when the funne his burning chariot diued
In Thetis wauve, and wearie teame vntide, th
On Iordans fandie banks her courfe fhe ftaid,
At last, there downe fhe light, and downe the laid.

4.

Her teares, her drinke; her food, her forrowings,
This was her diet that vnhappie night:

But fleepe (that fweet repofe and quiet brings)
To ease the greefes of difcontented wight, wheth
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.

5.

The birds awakte her with their morning fong, Their warbling muficke peart her tender eare, The murmuring brookes and whistling windes among

The ratling boughes, and lesues, their parta did heste; Her eies vnclos'd beheld the groues along (weare; Of fwaines and fhepherd groomes, that dwellings And that fweet noife, birds winds, and waters fent, Prouckte again the virgin to lament,

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6. Her

6.

Her plaints were interrupted with a found,
That feem'd from thickeft bushes to proceed,
Some iolly fhepherd fung a luftie round,
And to his voice had tun'd his oaten reed;
Thither fhe went, an old man there fhe found,
(At whofe right hand his little flock did feed)
Sat making baskets, his three fonnes among,
That learn'd their father's art, and learn'd his fong

7.

Beholding one in fhining armes appeared
The feelie man and his were fore difmaid;
But fweet Erminia comforted their feare,
Her ventall vp, her vifage open laid,
You happie folke, of heau'n beloued deare,
Work on (quoth the) upon your harmleffe traid,
These dreadfull armes I beare no warfare bring
To your fweet toile, nor those sweet tunes you fing.

8.

But father, fince this land, thefe townes and towres,
Deftroied are with fword, with fire and fpoile,
How may it be unhurt, that you and yours
In fafetie thus, applie your harmleffe toile ?
My fonne (quoth he) this pore eftate of ours
Is euer fafe from ftorm of warlike broile;

This wilderneffe doth vs in fafetie keepe, [fleepe.
No thundring drum, no trumpet breakes our

VOL. I.

9. Haply

9.

Haply iuft heau'ns defence and fhield of right, I Doth loue the innocence of fimple fwains, studT. The thunderbolts on highest mountains light, T And feld or neuer ftrike the lower plaines ont bak So kings haue caufe to feare Bellonaes night,Mof Not they whose sweat and toile their dinner gaines, Nor ever greedie foldier was entifedom buk By pouertie, neglected and despised. Hos 12%

10.

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O pouertie, chefe of the heau'nly brood, obstinat
Dearer to me than wealth or kingly crowne!
No wish for honour, thirft of others good,
Can moue my hart, contented with mine owner
We quench our thirft with water of this flood,
s flood, g
Nor fear we poifon fhould therein be throwne:A
Thefe little flocks of fleepe and tender goates
Giue milke for food, and wool to make us coates.

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We little with, we need but little wealth, as and
From cold and hunger vs to
clan and feed eill
Thefe are my fonnes, their care preferues from ftealth
Their father's flocks, nor fervants moe I need y
Amid thefe groues I walke oft for my health,A
And to the fishes, birds, and beaftes giue heed,

How they are fed, in forreft, fpring and lake,
And their contentment for enfample take. T
12. Tine

12.

Time was (for each one hath his doting time, qe

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These filuer golden treffes than) s were of do That countrie life I hated as a crime, body SAT And from the forrefts fweet contentment ran, To Memphis' stately pallace would I clime, clime,qui o And there became the mightie Caliphes man, And though I but a fimple gardner weare, Yet could I marke abufes, fee and heare.

13.

Entifed on with hope of future gaine,

I fuffred long what did my foule difpleafe;
But when my youth was fpent, my hope was vaine,
I felt my native ftrength at last decrease;
I gan my loffe of luftie yeeres complaine,
And witht I had enjoy'd the countries peace;
I bod the court farewell, and with content
fentiaeuill.
My later age here have I quiet fpent. Lou

14.

While thus he fpake, Erminia hufht and ftill
His wife difcourfes heard, with great attention,
His fpeeches graue thofe idle fancies kill,
Which in her troubled foule bred fuch diffention;
After much thought reformed was her will,
Within thofe woods to dwell was her intention,
Till fortune fhould occafion new afford,
To turne her home to her defired Lord.

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15.

She faid therefore, O fhepherd fortunate !
That troubles fome didft whilom feele and
proue,
Yet liuest now in this contented state, in and ed
Let my mishap thy thoughts to pitie moue,
To entertaine me as a willing mate

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In fhepherd's life, which I admire and loue; Within these pleasant groues perchance my hart, Of her discomforts, may vnload fome part.

16.

If gold or wealth of most esteemed deare,
If iewels rich, thou diddeft hold in prife,
Such ftore 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 shepherd old.

17.

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 paftoraes geare,
A kerchiefe course vpon her head the tide;

But yet her gestures and her lookes (I geffe)
Were fuch, as ill befeem'd a fhepherdeffe..

MO

18. Not

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