| |
| GO my flock! go get you hence! | |
| Seek a better place of feeding; | |
| Where you may have some defence | |
| Fro the storms in my breast breeding | |
| And showers from mine eyes proceeding. | 5 |
| |
| Leave a wretch in whom all woe | |
| Can abide to keep no measure: | |
| Merry flock! such one forego, | |
| Unto whom mirth is displeasure: | |
| Only rich in mischief’s treasure. | 10 |
| |
| Yet, alas, before you go, | |
| Hear your woeful master’s story; | |
| Which to stones I else would show. | |
| Sorrow only then hath glory, | |
| When ’tis excellently sorry. | 15 |
| |
| STELLA! fiercest shepherdess! | |
| Fiercest but yet fairest ever! | |
| STELLA! whom O heavens do bless! | |
| Though against me she persèvere; | |
| Though I bliss inherit never. | 20 |
| |
| STELLA hath refusèd me! | |
| STELLA, who more love hath provèd | |
| In this caitiff heart to be; | |
| Than can in good ewes be movèd, | |
| Towards lambkins best belovèd. | 25 |
| |
| STELLA hath refusèd me! | |
| ASTROPHEL that so well servèd, | |
| In this pleasant spring, must see, | |
| While in pride flowers be preservèd | |
| Himself only winter-starvèd. | 30 |
| |
| Why, alas, doth she then swear | |
| That she loveth me so dearly? | |
| Seeing me so long to bear | |
| Coals of love that burn so clearly: | |
| And yet leave me helpless merely? | 35 |
| |
| Is that love? Forsooth, I trow, | |
| If I saw my good dog grievèd, | |
| And a help for him did know; | |
| My love should not be believèd, | |
| But he were by me relievèd. | 40 |
| |
| No, she hates me, welaway! | |
| Feigning love somewhat to please me: | |
| For she knows, if she display | |
| All her hate; death would soon seize me, | |
| And of hideous torments ease me. | 45 |
| |
| Then adieu, dear flock! adieu! | |
| But, alas, if in your straying, | |
| Heavenly STELLA meet with you: | |
| Tell her in your piteous blaying, | |
| Her poor slave’s unjust decaying. | 50 |
| |
