And all the day on hill or plaine,

He merrie chat can hold ;

"And with the sun doth folde againe ;

Then jogging home betime,

He turnes a crab, or turnes a round,

Or sings some merry ryme.

"Nor lacks he gleefull tales, whilst round

The nut-brown bowl doth trot;

165

170

"Or stormes by seas, or stirres on land,

Or cracke of credit lost:

180

Not spending franklier than his flocke

Shall still defray the cost.

"Well wot I, sooth they say, that say

More quiet nights and daies

The shepheard sleeps and wakes, than he

Whose cattel he doth graize.

V. 169, i. e. roasts a crab, or apple. round the bole doth trot. ed. 1597.

185

V. 171, to tell, whilst

How faire she was, and who she was. "She bore, quoth he, the bell

200

"For beautie: though I clownish am,

I know what beautie is;

Or did I not, at seeing thee,
I senceles were to mis.

"Her stature comely, tall; her gate

Well graced; and her wit

To marvell at, not meddle with,

As matchless I omit.

"A globe-like head, a gold-like haire,

A forehead smooth, and hie,

205

210

An even nose; on either side

Did shine a grayish eie:

"Two rosie cheeks, round ruddy lips,

White just-set teeth within;

A mouth in meane; and underneathe

A round and dimpled chin.

"Her snowie necke, with blewish veines,

Stood bolt upright upon

215

Her portly shoulders: beating balles

Her veined breasts, anon

220

"Adde more to beautie. Wand-like was

Her middle falling still,

And rising whereas women rise: ***

-Imagine nothing ill.

"And more, her long, and limber armes

225

And slender fingers aunswere to

Had white and azure wrists;

Her smooth and lillie fists.

"A legge in print, a pretie foot;

Conjecture of the rest :

For amorous eies, observing forme,

Think parts obscured best.

"With these, O raretie! with these

Her tong of speech was spare;

230

Were chearefull unto all:

Even such as neither wanton seeme,

Nor waiward; mell, nor gall.

"A quiet minde, a patient moode,

And not disdaining any;

Not gybing, gadding, gawdy: and
Sweete faculties had many.

245

"A nimph, no tong, no heart, no eie,

Might praise, might wish, might see;

250

For life, for love, for forme; more good,
More worth, more faire than shee.

"Yea such an one, as such was none,

Save only she was such:

Of Argentile to say the most,

Were to be silent much.'

"

I knew the lady very well,
But worthles of such praise,

255

The neatresse said: and muse I do,

A shepheard thus should blaze The coate' of beautie1. Credit me, Thy latter speech bewraies

260

Thy clownish shape a coined shew.

But wherefore dost thou weepe?

The shepheard wept, and she was woe,
And both doe silence keepe.

265

"In troth, quoth he, I am not such,

“But now-what now ?—deare heart, how now?

What ailest thou to weepe?"

The damsell wept, and he was woe,

And both did silence keepe.

280

1 i. e. emblazon beauty's coat. Ed. 1597, 1602, 1612, read coote.