Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden

John Fletcher (1579–1625)

The Satyr, II (from The Faithful Shepherdess)

THOU divinest, fairest, brightest,

Thou most powerful maid and whitest,

Thou most virtuous and most blessed,

Eyes of stars, and golden tressed

Like Apollo! tell me, sweetest,

What new service now is meetest

For the Satyr? Shall I stray

In the middle air, and stay

The sailing rack, or nimbly take

Hold by the moon, and gently make

Suit to the pale queen of night

For a beam to give thee light?

Shall I dive into the sea

And bring thee coral, making way

Through the rising waves that fall

Like snowy fleeces? Dearest, shall

I catch thee wanton fawns, or flies

Whose woven wings the summer dyes

Of many colours? get thee fruit,

Or steal from heaven old Orpheus’ lute?

All these I ’ll venture for, and more,

To do her service all these woods adore.