THE Lamentations of Amyntas for the death of Phillis, paraphrastically translated out of Latin into English Hexameters by Abraham France. LONDON Printed by john Wolf, for Thomas Newman, and Thomas Gubbin. Anno Dom. 1587. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, virtuous and learned Lady, the Lady Mary, Countess of Penbroke. MIne afflicted mind and crazed body, together with other external calamities have wrought such sorrowful and lamentable effects in me, that for this whole year I have wholly given over myself to mournful meditations. Among others, Amintas is one, which being first prepared for one or two, was afterward by the means of a few, made common to many, and so pitifully disfigured by the boisterous handling of unskilful pen men, that he was like to have come abroad so unlike himself, as that his own Phillis would never have taken him for Amintas. Which utter undoing of our poor shepherd, I knew not well otherwise how to prevent, but by repairing his ragged attire, to let him pass for a time under your honourable protection. As for his foes, they either generally mislike this unusual kind of verse, or else they fancy not my peculiar travail. For the first, I never heard better argument of them then this, such an one hath done but ill, therefore no man can do well, which reason is much like their own rhymes, in condemning the art, for the fault of some artificers. Now for the second sort of reprehenders who think well of the thing, but not of my labour therein, mine answer is at hand. If there were any penalty appointed for him that would not read, he might well complain of me that publish it to be read. But if it be in every man's choice to read it, or not to read, why then not in mine also to publish or not to publish it? He that will, let him see and read; he that will neither read nor see, is neither bound to see nor read. He that taketh no delight in reading, let him think that among so many men so diversly affected, there may be some found of a contrary humour. If any begin to read, when he beginneth to take no delight, let him leave of and go no further. If he follow on in reading without pleasure, let him neither blame me that did what I could, nor be angry with the thing which hath no sense, but reprehend himself who would continue in reading without any pleasure taking. Your honours most affectionate. Abraham France. The First Lamentation. IN flower of young years fair Phillis lately departing, With tears continual was daily bewailed of Amyntas, half mad Amyntas, careful Amintas, mournful Amintas. Whose mourning all night, all day, did weary the mountains, Weary the woods, and winds, and caves, and weary the fountains. But when he saw in vain his cheeks with tears to be watered, cheeks all pale and wan, yet could not find any comfort, comfortless than he turns at length his watery countenance Unto the shrill waters of Thames, and there he beginneth: Here, O nymph, these plaints, here, O good nymph, my bewailings, And convey them down to thy kinsman's watery kingdom, Down to the world washing main sea with speedy reflowing: World washing main-sea will then convey to the world's end This grievous mourning, by the shore, by the sands, by the desert, Desert, sands, and shore which witness were to my mourning. And great God Neptune perchance, his mightily thundering Triton, will command to recount what I feel, what I suffer, Raging heat of love, passing outrageous Aetna. So th'infamous fame of wretched lover Amyntas, Blown from th'east to the west, by the sounding trump of a Triton, Through deep seas passing, at length may pierce to Avernus, And fyelds Elysian where blessed souls be abiding. And there meet Phillis, sweet soul of Phillis among them, Sweet soul of Phillis, still, still, to be mourned of Amyntas, O what a life did I lead, what a blessed life did I lead then, Happy shepherd with a loving lass, while destiny suffered? Under a beech many times we sat most sweetly together, Under a broad beech tree that sunbeams might not annoy us, Either in others arms, still looking either on other: Both, many rhymes singing, and verses both many making, And both so many words with kisses so many mingling. Sometimes her white neck, as white as milk, was I tutching, Sometimes her pretty paps, and breast was I bold to be fingering, Whilst Phillis smile and bushing hanged by my bosom, And these cheeks of mine did stroke with her ivory fingers, these cheeks with young hear like soft down all to be smeared, O joyful spring time with pleasure wished abounding, O those blessed days while good luck shined fro the heavens, But since Phillis, alas, did leave most cursed Amyntas, Pains have plagued, alas, both flesh and bones of Amintas, No day riseth, alas, but it hears these groans of Amintas, No night cometh, alas, that brings any rest to Amintas, Night and day thus, alas, still Phillis troubleth Amintas. Now if northern blasts should sound their fearful alarm, And boisterous tempests, come thundering down fro the heavens, So that I were compelled with sheep and kids fro the pastures Down to the broad branched trees & thick set groves to be skudding, There to remain for a while, and all for fear of a scouring, Phillis then do I want, than my sweet Phillis is absent, Phillis then do I want: whose wont was then to be harckning All that I could of love, and gods lovely remember: Songs of lusty satyrs, and Fauni friends to the mountains, And cheerful Charites: such songs, as none but I only, Only Amintas made, for none compared with Amintas. But now, Phillis I want, and who shall now be my Phillis? Who shall mark what I sing, what I say, forsaken Amintas? If that I praise Phillis, these hills give praise to my Phillis, And Phillis, Phillis, from rocks with an Echo, reboundeth, Thus by the whistling winds my mournings, made but a jesting. If that I groan, these trees with bending, yield many groanings: And very ground for grief shows her complexion altered: So this ground, these trees, these rocks, and Echo resounding, All that I hear, that I see, gives fresh increase to my sorrow. Go poor sheep and kids, sometimes the delight of Amintas, Seek now somewhere else both grass and boughs to refresh you, Make your way by the fields, and never look for Amintas, Lodge yourselves at night, and never look for Amintas. Some pitiful goodman will take compassion on you, And feed you wandering, and bring you home by the euning. And I alone, yielding due mourning unto my Phillis, Phillis mine and yours (for you also she regarded) I'll now wander alone, still alone, by the rocks, by the mountains, Dwelling in dark dens by the wild beasts only frequented, Where no path for man, where no man's seen to be passing: Or to the woods I'll go, so dark with broadshadoe branches, That no Sun by the day, no star by the night do annoy me, And that I hear no voice, but Goblins horrible outcries, Owls baleful scriking, and crows unlucky resound. There shall these mine eyes be resolved in watery fountains: There shall these fountains flow over along by the pastures: There will I make such plaints, as beasts shall mourn by my plainings, Such plaints, as strong trees shall rend and rive fro the rooting, Make wild Panthers tame, and mollify lastly the flintstone. And if I needs must sleep▪ I'll take but a nap by my sleeping, On bare and cold ground, these limbs all weary reposing: No green turf to my head, shall stand in steed of a pillow, No bows or branches give covering unto my carcase, That some foul serpent may speedily give me my death's wound: That this poor soul may from flesh and blood be released, And passing stygian waters, may come to the fair fields, Elysian fair fields, and daily resort to my Phillis. Mean while, friendly shepherds & plowmen, mark what I tell you, Mark what I say (for I think you knew and loved Amintas.) Disdain dainty Venus, give no ground unto the blind boy, Young boy, but strong boy: take heed, take heed by Amintas. Th'one with a fire hath burnt, and th'other pierced with an arrow Flesh, and bones, and blood: what's worse than a fire, than an arrow? O bitter fortune of too too wretched Amintas. The second Lamentation. WHen by the pleasant streams of Thames poor caitif Amintas Had to the dull waters his grief thus vainly revealed, Spending all that day and night in vainly revealing, As soon as morning her shining hears fro the mountains Had shown forth, and driven all starlight quite fro the heavens, Then that unhappy shepherd still plagued with unhappily loving, Left those barren banks and waters no pity taking, And on a crooked sheephook his limbs all weary reposing, Climbed a fit to the hills, but, alas, very faintily climbed, Kids, and goats, and sheep driving, goodman, to the mountains, for sheep, goats, and kids with pastures better abounding, Then by the way thus he spoke, to the sheep, to the goats, to the young kids. O poor flock, it seems you feel these pangs of a lover, And mourn thus to behold your mournful master Amyntas. Your wont was, some part to be bleating, some to be skipping, Some with bended brows and horned pates to be butting, Sheep to be gnapping grass, and goats to the vines to be climbing. But now no such thing, but now no lust to be lively, Sheep and silly shepherd with luckless love be besotted, You for Amintas mourn, for Phillis mourneth Amyntas, O with what miseries poor mortal men be molested? Now do I know right well what makes you thus to be mourning, Thus to be tired, thus to be quailed, thus to be drooping: Phillis while she remained, milked my goats ever at euning, Goats that brought home dugs stretched with milk ever at euning. Phillis brought them flowers, & them brought unto the wellsprings, When dog-days reigned, when fields were all to be scorched, Whilst that I lay sleeping in cooling shade to refresh me. Phillis again was wont with Amyntas, sheep to be washing, Phillis again was wont my sheep thus washed to be shearing, Then to the sweet pastures my sheep thus shorn to be driving, And from fox and wolf my sheep thus driven to be keeping With watchful bawling and strength of lusty Lycisca, And in folds and coats my flock thus kept, to be closing: Lest by the Northern winds my sheep might chance to be pinched Lest by the frost or snow my kids might chance to be grieved. Phillis loved you so, so Phillis loved Amintas, Phillis a guide of yours, and Phillis a friend of Amintas. But sweet sheep, sweet goats, spare not to be lively, for all this, Look not upon my weeping face so sadly, for all this, hearken not to my plaints and songs all heavy, for all this, hearken not to my pipe, my pipe unlucky, for all this. But sweet sheep, sweet goats, leave of your master Amintas, Leap and skip by the flowering fields, and leave of Amintas, Climb to the vines and tender trees, and leave of Amintas, Climb to the vines, but run for life, for fear of a mischief, When th'old Silenus' with his Ass comes lasilie trotting, Let me alone, me alone lament and mourn my beloved, Let me alone celebrate her death by my tears, by my mourning: Like to the silver swan, who seeing death to be coming, wandereth alone for a while through streams of lovely Caïster, Then to the flowering banks all faint at length he repaireth, Singing there, sweet bird his dying song to Caïster, giving there, sweet bird, his last farewell to Caïster, Yielding up, sweet bird, his breath and song to Caïster. How can Amintas live, when Phillis leaveth Amintas? What for fields, for woods, for meadows careth Amintas, Meadows, woods, and fields if my sweet Phillis abandon? Mighty Pales fro the fields, fro the meadows learned Apollo, Faunus went fro the woods, when Phillis went from Amintas, No good sight to my eyes, no good sound came to my hearing. But let Phillis again come back, and stay with Amintas, Then shall woods with leaves, and fields with flowers be abounding, Meadows with green grass to the poor man's daily rejoicing, Mighty Pales to the fields, to the meadows learned Apollo, Faunus comes to the woods, if Phillis come to Amintas, No bad sight to my eyes, no bad sound comes to my hearing. Come then, good Phillis, come back, if destiny suffer, Leave those blessed bowers of fowls already departed, Let those sparkling eyes most like to the fire, to the Crystal, Overcome those hags and fiends of fearful Avernus. Which have overcome those stars of cheerful Olympus. And by thy speech more sweet than songs of Thracian Orpheus, Pacify th'infernal furies, please Pluto the grim god, Stay that bawling cur, that three throat horrible hellhound, For virtue, for voice, thou'rt like to Sibilla, to Orpheus. Sweet heart, come, to thy friend, to thy friend come speedily sweetheart. Speedily come, lest grief consume forsaken Amintas. Phillis, I pray thee return, if prayers may be regarded, By these tears of mine, from cheeks aye rueful abounding, By those arms of thine, which sometimes clasped Amintas, By lips thine and mine, joined most sweetly together, By faith, hands, and heart with true sincerity pledged, By songs, by wedding with great solemnity vowed, By jests, and good turns, by pleasures all I beseech thee, Help and succour, alas, thy forlorn lover Amintas. Or by thy tears entreat those nymphs of destiny fatal, No pity taking nymphs entreat, that I live not alone thus, Pinned thus a way with grief, suffering unspeakable anguish, But let death, let death, come speedily give me my passport, So that I find fair fields, fair seats, fair groves by my dying, And in fields, in seats, in groves fair Phillis abiding. There shall Phillis again, in courtesy strive with Amintas. There with Phillis again, in courtesy strive shall Amintas, There shall Phillis again make garlands gay for Amintas, There for Phillis again, gay garlands make shall Amintas, There shall Phillis again be repeating songs with Amintas, Which songs Phillis afore had made and sung with Amintas. But what, alas, did I mean, to the whistling winds to be mourning? As though mourning could restore what destiny taketh. Then to his house, full sad, when night approached, he returned. The third Lamentation. ANd now since burial of Phillis lovely, the third day At length appeared, when that most careful Amintas lost his kids fro the fold, and sheep let forth fro the sheepcoats, And to the neighbour hills full set with trees he resorted, Where, as amidst his flock, his lass thus lost he bewaileth, And makes fond wishes with deep sighs interrupted, And the relenting air with his owtcries all to bebeateth; Echo could not now to the last words yield any Echo, All oppressed with love, for her old love still she remembered, And she remembered still, that sweet Narcissus her old love, With tears all blubbered, with an inward anguish amazed. When she gins to resound, her sobs still stay the resounding, When she gins her speech, her grief still stoppeth her half speech, With which her wont was with lovers sweetly to dally. During these her dumps, thus again complaineth Amintas, During these his plaints, she with all compassion harkneth. O what a war is this with love thus still to be striving? O what a wild fire's this conveyed to my heart by the blind boy? That neither long time can bring any end to my striving Nor tears extinguish this wild fire thrown by the blind boy? Then then, alas, was I lost, o then then, alas, was I undone, When the corallcolored lips were by me greedily viewed, And eyes like bright stars, and fair brows daintily smiling, And cheerful forehead with gold wire all to bedecked, And cheeks all white red, with snow and purple adorned, And pure flesh swelling with quick veins speedily moving, And such fine fingers, as were most like to the fingers Of Tithonus wife, plaiting th'old beard of her husband. What shall I say to the rest? each part united in order, Each part unspotted, with long robes covered each part. What shall I say to the rest? many kisses joined to the sweet words, And many words of weight in like sort joined to the kisses, Under a green Laurel sitting, and under a myrtle, Myrtle due to Venus, green Laurel due to Apollo. That little earthen pot these joys hath now fro me snatched, That little earthen pot where Phillis bones be reserved, O thrice happy the pot, where Phillis bones be reserved, And thrice happy the ground, where this pot shall be reserved. Earth, and earthen pot, you have the beloved of Amintas, Nature's sweet darling, and only delight to the whole world, And sun of this soil, of these woods only Diana, Only Pales of seellie shepherds, Pandora the gods, Excluding all faults, including only the goodness, O thrice happy the earth, but much more happy the earth pot. O thrice happy the grass that grows on grave of a gods, And shooting upward, displays his top to the heavens. Sweet blasts of Lephyrus shall make this grass to be seemelle, No scythe shall touch it, no serpent craftily lurking With venomous breathing, or poison deadly shall hurt it: No Lioness foul paws, Bears foot, beasts horn shall abuse it, No birds with pecking, no vermin filthy by creeping, No winters hoar frost, no night dews dangerous humour, No rage of sun's heat, no stars or power of heavens, No boisterous tempest, no lightnings horrible outrage. drive hence, good plowmen, drive hence your wearied oxen, And you, friendly shepherds, keep back your sheep fro the graves grass Lest your sheep unwares may chance by my love to be harmed, Lest by the bulls rude rage her bones may chance to be bruised, Whilst with foot and horn he the graves ground teareth asunder. Make haste you young men, make hast all you pretty damsels, With sacred water this sacred place to besprinkle: Burn Piles of beache trees, and then cast on the sabaean Spice to the Piles burning, send sweet perfumes to the heavens, Cinnamon, and Cafia, violets, and loved Amomum, Red coloured roses, with Bearebreech cast ye together. And then on every side set tapers sacred in order, And beat your bare breasts with fists all weary for anguish, And sing sweet Epitaphs, lifting your voice to the heavens, Sing sour sweet Epitaphs in death and praise of a gods. Wanton fleshly Satyrs, and Fauni friends to the mountains, Nymphs addict to the trees, and in most gracius order Three graces joining, shall bear you company mourning. And I myself will dress, embalm, and chest my beloved, And following her coarse, (all pale and wan as a dead man,) Weary the woods with plaints, & make new streams by my weeping Such streams as no bank shall bar, streams ever abounding, Such streams as no drought shall dry, streams never abating. With me Parnassus, with me shall mourn my Apollo, And Venus, all chafed that destiny took my beloved. And that same vile boy that first did join me to Phillis, His lamp shall lay down, and painted quiver abandon, And with his own pretty tears trickling, and sweetly beseeming, Help me to mourn, although that he gave first cause to my mourning. But what, alas, do I mean to repeat these funeral outcries. Still to repeat these songs, and still too late to repeat them? Thrice hath Phoebus now displayed his beams fro the mountains, Thrice hath Phoebus now descended down to the main sea, Since my beloved was dead, since our good company parted, Since Phillis buried, since all solemnities ended, Since my delights, poor wretch, were all enclosed in a coffin, Yet do I mourn here still, though no good comes by my mourning, Adding tears to my tears, and sorrows unto my sorrows, And no stay to my tears, and no rest comes to my sorrows. O strong boy, strong bow, and O most dangerous arrow, Now do I find it a pain, which first did seem but a pleasure, Now do I feel it a wound, which first did seem but a smarting, When strong boy, strong bow, shot first that dangerous arrow. Thus did Amintas mourn, and then came home by the sonset. The fourth Lamentation. Thrice had shining sun withdrawn his face fro the heavens, And earth all darkened, since Phillis friendly departed, And when fourth day came, then again true lover Amintas, Mindful of old love still, took no joy flock to be feeding, But still alone wandering, through fields, to the banks, to the waters, Leaned his head on bank, and eyes cast down to the waters, With tears incessant his cheeks full watery washing. What now resteth, alas, to be done of woeful Amintas? No sense, no knowledge in these unsensible ashes, In grave no feeling, in death there's no pity taking. Phillis makes but a jest, dead Phillis mocketh Amintas. Phillis breaks her faith, and plays with Pluto the black prince, Pluto the black prince now enjoys those joys of Amintas, Speak on, good sweet nymphs, if you can tell any tidings, Whether among those trulls that wait on Queen of Avernus, My Queen and Empress, my Phillis chance to be spinning? Speak, for I fear, for I fear, she'll never come to Amintas, And thou Sylvanus, Silvanus' good to the mountains, And flocks on mountains, o help most helpless Amintas, Help by thyself, by thy friends, thou god cause gods to be helping, For my religion, for my devotion help me, For thine own boys sake, for love of sweet Cyparissus, Either let Phillis be returned back to Amintas, Or let Amintas die, that death may succour Amintas. And thou naughty Cupid, yet say on, give me thy counsel, What shall I do, shall I die? shall Amintas murder Amintas? die then Amintas: death will bring Phillis to Amintas. O hard hearted love, thou seest what I bear, what I suffer, heart with flames, and eyes with mournful water abounding, Head with cares possessed, and soul full of horrible anguish, This thou seest, and sure I do know, it greeus thee to see this, Though they call thee tyrant, though so thou justly be called, Though thy nature pass Busiris beastly behaviour: For what makes me to mourn, may cause thee: yield to my mourning: One rude rock, one wind, & one tempestuus outrage Batters, breaks, and beats thy ship, my ship to the quicksands. Our harms are equal, thy ship wrack like to my shipwreck, Love did love Phillis, Phillis was loud of Amintas, Phillis loves darling, Phillis darling of Amintas, Dearling, crown, garland, hope, joy, wealth, health of Amintas, And what more shall I say? for I want words fit for Amintas. And thou churlish ground, now cease any more to be fruitful, Cease to be decked with flowers, and all in green to be mantled, Thy flower is withered, my garland lately decayed, Phillis thine and mine with death untimely departed, Whose sweet corpse thou bar'st, whose footsteps in thee be printed, And whose face thou didst admire for beauty renowned, Belch out roaring blasts with gaping jaws, to the heavens, That those toaring blasts may scour by the skies, by the heavens, And foul struggling storms cast down fro the clouds, fro the heavens For such foul weather will best agree with a mourner. howl and mourn thou earth, and roar with an horrible outcry, howl as then thou didst, when mountains were to the mountains Put, by thy cursed brood, to be climbing up to Olympus, When great flakes of fire came flashing down fro the heavens, When thy crawling sons came tumbling down from Olympus. howl as lady Ceres did then, when prince of avernus Stole her daughter away from fields that joined on Aetna, Unto the dungeons dark, and dens of his hellish abiding. Thou ground, forgetful what was by duty required, Shouldst send, unbidden, with Phills, tears to Avernus. Her blessed burden thou wast unworthy to carry, Therefore tender girl in flowering age she departed, O frowning, fortune, o stars unluckily shining, O cursed birth day of quite forsaken Amintas. Phillis, alas, is changed, Phillis converted in ashes, Whose pretty lips, neck, eyes, and hair so sweetly beseeming, Purple, snow, and fire, and gold wire seemed to resemble, Tithonus fair wife comes always home by the sunset, Every night comes home to that old Tithonus her husband, Sweet Shafalus leaving, and grey beard heartily kissing: But my Phillis, alas, is gone as far as Avernus, Gone too far to return, and this tormenteth Amyntas. White is black and sweet is sour to the sense of Amyntas, Night and day do I weep, and make ground moist by my weeping, Mourn, lament, and howl, and power forth plaints to the heavens. So do the Nightingales in bushes thorny remaining Sing many doleful notes and tunes, sweet harmony making, Their young ones mourning, their young ones daily bewailing. Phillis, alas, is gone, she'll never come to Amyntas, Never again come back, for death and destiny stay her, Stay her among those groves, and darksome dens of Avernus, where's no path to return, no starting hole to be scaping, Destiny, death, and Hell, and howling hydeus hellhound, Loathsome streams of styx, that ninetimes compass Avernus, Stay her amongst those hags in dungeons ugly for ever. Only the name and fame, and her most happy remembrance still shall abide, shall live, shall flourish freely for ever. Thus did Amyntas speak, and then came feyntily homeward. The fifth Lamentation. SInce Phillis burial with due celebration ended, Phoebus again advanct his blazing face fro the maynesea And with morning Star dispelling night fro the heavens Quickly the fifth time brought broad day light unto Amyntas: But yet Phillis in heart, in mind, and soul of Amyntas Still did abide, and still was Phillis mourned of Amyntas. No care of driving his goats and kids to the mountains, No care of following his sheep and lambs to the pastures, But daylight loathing, and days work wonted abhorring, Strait to the woods doth he walk, in no man's company walking, Where he the weeping flower making all weary by weeping, Untuned speeches cast out, and desperate outcries, Where, with sobs to the winds, with tears increase to the waters Still did he give, and still vain love most vainly bewailed. As loving Turtle seeing his lately beloved. turtle-dove thrown down from tree, with a stone, with an arrow, Can not abide sunbeams, but flies fro the fields, fro the meadows, Unto the darkest woods, and there his desolate harbour Makes in a Cypress tree, with lightning all to be scorched, Or with Winter's rage and black storms foully defaced: Where on a rotten bow his limbs all heavy reposing, Still doth he groan for grief, still mourn for his only beloved, Then consumed with grievous pangs, and weary with anguish, Down to the ground doth he fall with fainting wings fro the barebow, Beating dust with wings, and feathers foully beeraying, Beating breast with beack till blood come freshly abounding, Till life gushing forth with blood go jointly together, So did Amyntas mourn, such true love made him a mourner. O what a vile boy's this, what a grievous wound, what a weapon? O what a dart is this that sticks so fast to my heart root, Like as roots to the trunk, or life as vine to the Elmetree, ivy joined to the walls, or green mos cleeves to the foul ponds. O pitiles lous-god: poor lovers how be we plagued? O strong dart of love which each thing speedily pierceth This dart God Saturn, God Mars, and great God of all Gods jove himself did wound, unless that fame do beely them. Although God Saturn were old and like to a crushed crabb, Although Mars were armed with tried, Vulcanian armour, Although jove with fire and thunder maketh a rumbling. Yea thine own mother, thine own invincible arrow Hurt: and pricked those paps which thou wast wont to be sucking. Neither sparest thou him that reigns in watery kingdom, Neither sparest thou him that rules in fearful Avernus, Pluto know what it is with a paltry boy to be troubled, Neptune knows what it is by a blind boys check to be mated. Then since heaven, seas, and hell are nought by thee spared, Earth and earth dwelling lovers must look to be pinched. O what gaping earth will Amintas greedily swallow, O what gulf of Seas, and deeps, will quickly devour him? And bring him living to the deadman's souls in Avernus. Gods of skies (for love hath pierced oft up to the heavens) If pity move your hearts, if you from stately Olympus Can vouchsafe to behold these inward wounds of Amintas, Free this troubled soul from cares and infinite anguish, End these endless toils, bring ease by my death to my deaths-wound. O that I had then died when Phillis lived with Amintas, In fyelds when Phillis sang songs of love with Amintas, In fyelds when Phillis kissed and embraced Amintas, In fyelds when Phillis slept under a tree with Amintas, Blest had Amintas been, if death had taken Amintas, So my Phillis might have come and sat by my deathbed, Closing these eye-lidds of dead, but blessed Amyntas, Blest, that he died in her arms, that his eyes were closed by her own hands. But what, alas, do I mean, for death thus still to be wishing Fool that I am? For death comes quickly without any wishing. Inward grief of troubled soul hath brought me to death's door, Wonted strength doth fail, my limbs are fainty with anguish, Vital heat is gone like unto a smoke, to a vapour, Yeasterday but a boy, and now gray-headed Amintas. O luckless lovers, how always are we beewitched? What contrarieties, what fancies flatly repugnant, How many deaths, lives, hopes, fears, joys, cares still do we suffer? O that I could forget Phillis, many times am I wishing, O that I had died, for Phillis, many times am I wishing, Thus distracted I am ten thousand times by my wishing. Like to a ship through whirling goulfs unsteadily passing, Floating here and there, hence thence, with danger on each side, Fearing Scylla's jaws, and mouth of greedy Charybdis: Whilst by the rage of Sea brusd ship sticks fast to the quick sands, And by the mighty rebounding waves is lastly devoured But what, alas, do I mean mine old love still to be mourning, Forgetting pastures, and flocks, and vines by my mourning? My naked pastures with floods are like to be drowned, My fields untilled with thorns are like to be pestered, My poor sheep and goats with cold are like to be pinched, My pretty black bullock will come no more to my white cow, And by the swines foul snout my vines are like to be rooted, For want of walling, for want of customed hedging, Rank boughs in vinetree there's no body now to be cutting, cut boughs with wythy twigs there's no body now to be binding, Pecking pies from grapes there's no body now to be keeping. You rocks help me to mourn: rocks, pynetrees loftily bearing: You woods help me to mourn: woods always wont to be silent: You wells help me to mourn: wells clear and like to the Crystal: Vines forlorn; forsaken shrubbs lament with Amintas: On you rocks many times Phillis way wont to be walking, In you woods many times Phillis was wont to be sitting, With you wells many times Phillis was wont to be smile, And you vines and shrubbs Phillis was wont to be fingering. Now 'twas just darknight, and home came silly Amintas. The sixth Lamentation: SInce Phillis burial, six times sprang light fro the mountains, Six times had Titan brought back his coach fro the mainsea, And flying horses, with salt waves all to bedashed, With puffed up nostrils great fire flames lustily breathing: When to the wild woods went careless, yet careful Amintas, Leaving flock in fold, no creatures company keeping Beating breast with fist, with tears face foully defacing, Filling ways as he went, with such and so many wailings As were sometimes made by the sweet Rhodopeïan Orpheus, When by the rocks of Thrace, by the fatal water of Haebrus, His sweet Eurydice with most sweet voice he bewailed, Eurydice twice lost, by the cursed laws of Auermus, When sweet voice sweet harp joined most sweetly together, Made both birds and beasts and stocks and stones to be mourning. Every beast in field wisheth dark night to be coming, Morning star by the birds in fields is sweetly saluted, As soon as she gins by the break of day to be peeping. Every beast in field wisheth dark night to be coming, Euning star to the kids well fed comes heartily welcome, As soon as she gins by the night's approach to be shining. Neither day nor night can please displeased Amintas; All day long do I mourn, and all night long am I mourning, No dai's free fro my plaints, and no night's free fro my plaining. Who so thinks it strange, that thus tormented Amintas, Can thus long endure: who thinks it strange, that Amintas, Lius, yet takes no rest, but still lives, still to be dying; This man knows not, alas, that love is daily triumphant, This man knows not, alas, that love can work many wonders, Love can abide no law, love always lous to be lawless, Love altereth nature, rules reason, maistreth olympus Laws, edicts, decrees; contemns jove mightily thundering, jove that rules and reigns, that with beck bendeth Olympus. love caused Hippolytus with bry'rs and thorns to be mangled, For that he had foul love of lusting Phaedra refused. love made Absyrtus with sister's hands to be murdered, And in pieces torn, and here and there to be scattered. love forced Pasiphae man's company long to be loathing, And for a white bulls flesh, bulls company long to be lusting. Love and luring looks of lovely Polixena caused Greekish Achilles death, when he came to the Church to be wedded. love made Alcides that great invincible Heros, Master of all monsters, at length to be whipped by a mistress. love drowned Laeander swimming to the beautiful Hero, Unto the town Sestos, from town of cursed Abydos. love made jove, that's ruler of earth, and ruler of heaven, Like to a silly shepherd, and like to the fruitful Echidna, Like to a fire, to a swan, to a shower, to a bull, to an Eagle, Sometimes Amphytrion, sometimes Dyctinna resembling. But what need I to show this blindboyes surly behaviour, Lewd pranks, false policies, sly shifts, and wily devices, Murdering mind, hardhart, dead hand, bend bow, ready arrows? No body knows better what bitter grief is abounding In loves lewd kingdom, then luckless lover Amintas. Whether I go to the groves, or whether I climb to the mountains, Whether I walk by the banks, or whether I look to the fountains, Love still waits at an inch, and never leaus to be pinching. Every thing complains, and answereth unto my plaining, Every thing gives cause and new increase to my mourning. If that I mourn in woods, these woods seem all to be mourning, And broadbrauncht Oak trees their upright tops to be bowing. If that I sigh or sob, this pine tree strait by the shaking, This peerless pine tree for company seems to be pining, As though himself felt th'enduring pangs of Amintas. And that bird of Thrace, my woeful company keeping, Cries, and calls for Itys, with monstrous villainy murdered, Murdered, alas, by the devilish crafts and means of a mother, Boiled, alas, by the merciless heart and hand of a sister, Eaten, alas, by the cursed mouth and teeth of a father. And poor turtle-dove her mates good company missing, Sits on a naked bough, and keeps me company mourning. When that I climb to the ragged rocks, & creep to the mountains, Staying feeble knees with a staff, for fear of a falling, If that I then curse death, and rail on destiny fatal, For marring that face, those cheeks, those ivory fingers Of my sweet Phillis: Phillis comes back with an echo, Echo returns Phillis five times fro the rocks, fro the mountains, Every beast which hears these woeful plaints of Amintas, Comes, and sits him down twixt legs of woeful Amintas: Suffers back to be stroked with staff of mournful Amintas: Claps his tail 'tis belly beelowe, and moan's with Amintas: As that good lioness, which first was cured by a Roman, In Roman theatre gave life for life to the Roman. O if such pity were in destiny no pity taking, Phillis I should not miss, nor Phillis miss of Amintas. If that I come to the banks and cast mine eyes to the waters, Waters augmented with these my watery fountains, Then these foulemouthed frogs with jarring tunes do molest me, So that I am compelled with bowing knees to be praying. Praying unto the nymphs in bowers of water abiding, That they would vouchsafe to receive my carcase among them, And fro the sight of man, fro the light of sun to remove it, As that loved Hylas they sometimes friendly received. But yet I wish in vain, and nought can I get by my wishing, And of my wishing these lewd winds make but a whistling. So nothing contents poor malcontented Amintas, Clogged with an heap of cares, and closed in an hell full of horror. Then to his homely Cabin, by the moon light hasted Amintas. The seventh Lamentation. Six nights now were past, and seu'nth day hastened outward, When with fretting cares, all spent and wasted Amintas, Went to the wood, stark wood, with great extremity weeping, And to the dull deaf winds his late lost freshly bewailing. O how much this Amintas is altered from that Amintas, Which was wont to be captain of every company rural? Nothing nimble I am with willow staff to be threshing, Nor with toothed rake round heycock for to be making. Nothing nimble I am, my branched vines to be cutting, Nor with sharp edged suck my fruitful soil to be ploughing. Nothing nimble I am my scabbed sheep to be curing, Nor with leaping lads, with tripping trulls to be dancing. Nothing nimble I am sweet rhymes and songs to be making, Nor sweet songs and rhymes on pleasant pipe to be playing. My sense is dulled, my strength extremely decayed, Since that fair Phillis my love did leave me for ever, Who was worthy to live, and worthy to love me for ever. Phillis, fair Phillis, thou darling dear of Amintas, What lass durst compare with darling dear of Amintas, For wit, for learning, for face, for seemly behaviour? My sweet lass Phillis was no more like to the grey gowns, And country milkmaids, than nightingale to the lapwing, Rose to the green willow, or silver swan to the swallow. Phillis amidst fair maids did faire maids' company countenance, As ripe corn doth fields, as clustered grapes do the vinetrees. As stout bulls do the droves, as bayleaus beautify gardens. Phillis name and fame, which is yet freshly remembered, Passed abroad so far, so far surpassed Amarillis, As that it yrkt and grieved disdainful proud Amaryllis, Who still thought herself for beauties praise to be peerless. But let her hartful of hate still pine, let her eyes full of envy Still be resolved in tears, Phillis surmounts Amaryllis. Phillis dead is alive, and so shall live to the world's end, Phillis praise shall scape from death and grave to the world's end. But what avails it alas dead Phillis now to be praising? Phillis, alas, is dead, 'tis too late now to be praising, And to renew old thoughts and fond conceits by my praising. Better it is to be low and never climb to a kingdom, Then fro the sceptre again to be tumbled down to the dunghill, For what avails it now that Phillis lulled Amintas, Lulled him a sleep in her arms and slept herself with Amintas, Under a cooling shade from scorching beams to defend us, Which sight made Aeglon and Mopsus teeth to be watery? Or what avails it now t'have gathered jointly together Fragrant herbs and flowers by the mantled fields, by the meadows, Daffadil, and Endive, with mourning flower Hyacinthus, Thyme, Casia, Violets, Lilies, and sweet pretty roses For nymphs and woodgods gay garlands duly preparing? Or what avails it now t'have plucked at strawberry brambles, Blackebery briars t'have spoiled, t'have bared mulberry branches, With such country fruits our baskets heavily loading? Or what avails it now t'have given her so many kisses, And t'have taken again in like sort so many kisses? Or what avails it now t'have drawn our talk to the morning, Or t'have made our names with box tree bark to be growing, Names and vows which nought but death could cause to be broken? Woeful wretch that I am, Phillis forsakes me for all this, And forsaken of her death, hath possessed me for all this. And yet I am not sick (unless that love be a sickness) But death comes creeping, and lingering life is a flitting, And this differing of death is worse than a dying. Lingering fire by degrees hath spent and wasted Amintas, As Meleager of old, whose life was left in a firebrand, Firebrand cast to the fire by the murdering hands of a mother, When fatal firebrand burning did burn Meleager. Every day do I weep, and every hour am I wailing, Every hour and day dismal to the wretched Amintas, Yea much more wretched, than that poor silly Prometheus, Who for his aspiring, for stealing fire from Olympus, Was by the God's decrees fast bound with chains to the mountain Caucasus, huge and cold, where he's compelled an Eagle, Eagle still feeding, with his own heart still to be feeding. O Pan, o Fauni, that love with maids to be lively, Leave your pipes, your songs, your dance, leave off to be lively, join your tears with Amintas tears, and mourn with Amintas, And mourn for Phillis, for Phillis leaveth Amintas. Phillis for your sake fine wafers duly prepared, Phillis pleased your eyes whilst Phillis daintily danced, Phillis amidst fair maids was deemed still to be fairest, And gave grace to the rest with her eyes and comely behaviour, As fair Laurel trees be adorned with beautiful ivy, As fine gold is adorned by the shining light of a jasper. Since death of Phillis no joys enjoyeth Amintas, Every good thing's gone: Phillis took every good thing, Country soil laments and country men be a weeping. And thou garden green now power forth plaints with Amintas, Phillis thy sweet banks and beds did water at evening, Phillis amidst thy flowers always waste wont to be walking, But now no walking, but now no water at euning, Now best flower is dead, now Phillis gone fro the garden. And you Crystal springs with streams of silver abounding, Where fair Phillis saw fair Phillis face to be shining, power forth floods of tears from those your watery fountains, From those your fountalns with green mos all to be smeared: Phillis will no more see Phillis sit by the fountains, Phillis will no more her lips apply to the fountains, Lips to be joined to the lips of jove that ruleth Olympus. And you darksome dales, and woods aye wont to be silent, Where she amidst the shepherds, and toiling boisterous heard men, Her milk-white she goats many times was wont to be feeding, Lament and mourn for this nymphs untimely departure. But Pan, and Fauni, but garden green of Amintas, But you springs, and dales, and woods aye wont to be silent, Leave of your mourning, I'll give you leave to be silent, Leave to be silent still, give you me leave to be mourning, Leave to be mourning still, let this most heavy departure, This death of Phillis bring wished death to Amintas. Here did he pause for a while, and home at night he returned. The eight Lamentation. SInce death of Phillis, since Phillis burned by Amyntas, Since Phillis burned bones were chested duly, the eighth time, Night gave place to the light, and euning unto the morning: When to the woods so wild, to the wild beasts dangerous harbours, Forsaking high ways, by the buy ways passed Amintas: And there sets him down all wearied under a myrtle, For grief still groaning, with deep sighs heavily panting, Still Phillis naming, still Phillis feintily calling. And must one wench thus take all the delights fro the country? And must one wench thus make every man to be mourning? Every man whose flocks on these hills use to be feeding? And must Aeglon weep, and must that friendly Menalcas Wear his mourning robe, for death of my bony Phillis? And must good Coridon lament, must Tityrus alter His pleasant melodies, for death of my bony Phillis? And must Damoetas for grief leave of to be loving? Must Amarillis leave, for death of my bony Phillis? And must drooping bull consume as he goes by the meadow? Must sheep look lowering, for death of my bony Phillis? And must sighs seem winds? must tears seem watery fountains? And must each thing change for death of my bony Phillis? O then what shall I do, for death of my bony Phillis? Since that I loved bony lass Phillis more dearly than all these. Since that I loved her more than I love these eyes of Amyntas. O then what shall I do forlorn forsaken Amintas, What shall I do, but die, for death of my bony Phillis? Phillis who was wont my flock with care to be feeding, Phillis who was wont my mylch she goats to be milking, Phillis who was wont, (most handsome wench of a thousand) Either clouted cream, or cakes, or curds to be making, Either sine basketts of bulrush for to be framing, Or by the green meadows gay dancing dames to be leading, Phillis whose bosom fill beards did love to be filling, Phillis for whose sake green laurel loved to be bowing, Phillis, alas, sweet lass Phillis, this brave bony Phillis, Is dead, is buried, makes all good company parted. O how oft Phillis conferred in fields with Amintas? Whilst for nymphs of woods gay garlands framed Amintas. O how oft Phillis did sing in caves with Amintas, joining her sweet voice to the oaten pipe of Amintas? O how oft Phillis clipped and embraced Amintas, How many thousand times hath Phillis kissed Amintas, Bitten Amintas lips, and bitten again of Amintas? So that Amintas his eyes invied these lips of Amintas. O sweet soul Phillis w'have lived and loved for a great while, (If that a man may keep any mortal joy for a great while) Like loving Turtles and Turtledoves for a great while: One love, one liking, one sense, one soul for a great while, Therefore one deaths wound, one grave, one funeral only Should have joined in one both love and lover Amintas. O good God what a grief is this that death to remember? For such grace, gesture, face, feature, beauty, behaviour, Never afore was seen, is never again to be looked for. O frowning fortune, o death and destiny dismal: Thus be the poplar trees that spread their tops to the heavens, Of their flowering leaves despoiled in an hour, in a moment: Thus be the sweet violets that gave such grace to the garden, Of their purpled robe despoilded in an hour, in a moment. O how oft did I roar and cry with an horrible howling, When for want of breath Phillis lay feintily gasping? O how oft did I wish that Phoebus would fro my Phillis drive this fever away: or send his son from Olympus, Who, when lady Venus by a chance was pricked with a bramble, Healed her hand with his oils, and fine knacks kept for a purpose. Or that I could perceive Podalyrius order in healing, Or that I could obtain Medea's exquisite ointments, And baths most precious, which old men freshly renewed. Or that I were as wise, as was that crafty Prometheus, Who made pictures live with fire that he stole from Olympus. Thus did I call and cry, but no body came to Amintas, Then did I rail and rave, but nought did I get by my railing, Whilst that I called and cried, & raged, and raved as a mad man, Phillis,, alas, Phillis by the burning fits of a fever, Quickly before her day, her days unluckily ended. O dismal death's day, with black stone still to be noted, Wherein no sun shined, no comfort came fro the heavens, Wherein clustered clouds had covered lightsome Olympus, Wherein no sweet bird could find any joy to be chirping, wherein loathsome snakes from dens were loath to be creeping, wherein foul skriche owls did make detestable howling, And from chimney top gave woeful sign of a mischief. O first day of death, last day of life to Amintas, which no day shall drive from soul and heart of Amintas, Till Neptune dry'de up withdraw his floods fro the fishes, And scaled fishes live naked along by the sea shore, Till stars fall to the ground, till light hearts leap to Olympus. For since Phillis went and left forsaken Amintas, joys and pleasures went and left forsaken Amintas. Perplexed speaking, and vain thoughts only remained, Immoderate mourning, and mad love only remained. Thou jove omnipotent, which dost with mercy remember Mortal men's miseries: which know'st what it is to be loving, And thou god Phoebus that sometimes driven from Olympus Feeding sheep didst love, help luckless lover Amyntas Feeding sheep and goats, help poor man, young man Amintas. Thou that abridgest breath, thou daughter dear to the darkness, cut this thread of life, dispatch and bring me to darkness, Infernal darkness, fit place for mournful Amintas. So shall Amintas walk and talk in darksome Avernus, So shall Amintas love with Phillis again be renewed, In fields Elysian Phillis shall live with Amintas. Thus do I wish and pray, this praying is but a prattling, And these wishing words but a blast, but a wind, but a whistling. die then Amyntas die, for dead is thy bony Phillis. Phoebus' went to the sea: to the poor house hasted Amintas. The ninth Lamentation. SInce Phillis burial now fair aurora the ninth time show'd her shining face, and Phoebus lightened Olympus: When from couch all wet with tears, confounded Amintas Raised his crasd carcase, with mind still abroad to be wandering, Unto the wilde-beasts dens and fearful unhospital harbours, Where was nothing else but certain death to be looked for. But whilst naked limbs with robes all ragged he covered, Oft did he call and cry for Phillis, for bony Phillis, With deep sighs and grons still Phillis, Phillis he called: And then dressed, up he gets, and gets himself to the desert, Desert dens, man's sight, and Suns light ever abhorring. There by the woods wandering, and love unlucky bewailing, More and more did he feed that wont wound of a lover. Like as a trembling heart, whose heart is pearct with an arrow, Runs, and yet running his death still beareth about him, Runs to the thickest groves, yet sweats and bleeds as he runneth, Runs, and so with toil and grief death hasteneth onward: Then with tears doth he seek Dyctamus flower by the desert, Seeks, but cannot find Dyctamus flower by the desert, Like to the trembling heart went heartless lover Amintas. And thus again at length (his cheeks with water abounding) From sullen silence abruptly began to be raging. Since Phillis locked up that starlight lively for ever, Since fair Phillis slept that long sleep, what shall Amintas Think, conceive, contrive, or what shall Amintas imagine, What shall Amintas do, that Amintas go not a begging? For no care is of health, no care of wealth in Amintas, No joy, no comfort, but Phillis abides in Amintas. Who will fodder now in Winter give to my bullocks? Who will now any more bring my white bull to my heifer? Who will goats and kids to the ragged rocks be a driving? Who will sheep and lambs from ravening wolves be defending? Who will look to my rams, and wash their fleece in a river? Who will anoint scabbed sheep, lest that contagius humour Once take vent, make way, and spoil whole flock of Amintas? Who will let them blood, when raging fire of a fever Runneth along by the bones, and marrow quickly devoureth? Who will tender sheep drive up fro the fields, to the mountains, When deep Thames increased with rain or snow from Olympus, Drives down wanted walls, and banks all beateth asunder, Overflowing fields, and pastures foully defacing? O poor flock, poor heard, o life, and love of Amintas: Phillis life and love is gone, o wretched Amintas. Even as a merchant man that lost his ware by a shipwreck, And ship left on sands with blind rocks broken a sunder, Swims on a board staggering with salt waves all to bedashed: Driu'n hence thence with winds, and knows no place to be landing▪ wandering here and there, and sees no star to be shining: So twixt hope and fear, twixt life and death doth Amintas Daily delay his days, yet deaths wound beareth about him. For since Phillis, alas, in a dead sleep slipped from Amintas, Inconstant, wandering, distracted, moydred Amintas Rangeth alone by the rocks, by the woods, by the dens, by the deserts, Deserts, dens, & woods, & rocks, where no body walketh, No body dare approach for fear of slippery serpents, And crawling Adders with baleful poison abounding. And yet I can not find what I seek, what I look, what I long for, Phillis I mean by the rocks, by the woods, by the dens, by the deserts, Since that time, that time of grief and woe the beginning, Neither sun by the day, nor moon by the night did Amintas Ever see sleeping, though weak and weary by watching. And no food I desire for I feed to fast on a fancy, Love fills fainty stomach, and every part of Amintas. And I desire no drink, for I drink up watery fountains. Fountains of salt tears, still trickling, ever abounding, Like showers in winter driven down with winds from Olympus. O most mighty Pales, which still bar'st love to the country, And poor country folk, hast thou forgotten Amintas. Now, when as other Gods have all forsaken Amintas, Thou on whose feast days bonfires were made by Amintas. And quite leapt over by the bouncing dancer Amintas, Thou, for whose feast days great cakes ordained Amintas, Supping milk with cakes, and casting milk to the bonfire? And thou surly Cupid, thou churlish dame Cytheraea, With whose praise I did once, whilst Phillis abode with Amintas, Make these fields to resound, make beasts and men to be wondering, On pitiful poor wretch is no care, no pity taken? What? shall I nothing get for making so many offerings, So many sweet perfumes, for saying so many prayers? All with a green garland with leaves of myrtle adorned? Are gods unthankful? can no grace come from Olympus? Are gods unmindful? why then, what mean I to worship? Worship I know not what for a god, when it is but an Idol: For no guerdon, alas, no good things left for a good man. Poor fool, what did I mean, on gods or stars to be railing? As though stars or gods could alter destinies order. Poor fool, what did I mean incessant tears to be shedding? Still to the hills, to the woods, to the fields, to the floods to be wailing? Sith these hills, these woods, these fields, these floods to my weeping, Can lend no feeling, can afford no sense to my wailing. Yet will I call Phillis, though no body come by my calling, And weep for Phillis, though no good come by weeping, Thus will I do: many men, many minds: this pleaseth Amintas, And yet I can not abide any more by the woods to be ranging, And this living death, this dying life to be leading: die then Amintas, die, let Amintas murder Amintas, So shall that grim Sire, and foul faced prince of Avernus, Some pity take, when he sees this wound of murdered Amintas, This wound wide and large: and loss of graus but a small loss. So shall Amintas walk, and Phillis walk with Amintas, Through those pleasant groves and flowering fields of Amintas. But yet again to his house, with doubtful mind he returned. The tenth Lamentation. SInce that fatal day and hour unlucky the tenth time Fair Aurora betimes by the days break rose from her husband, Husband old and cold, and drove dark cloads from Olympus, Making way to the sun, taking her way to the younker, Brave younker Shafalus, whom fair Aurora desired. Aeolus, of purpose, auroraes fancy to further, Sent forth sweet Zephyrus with tender breath to be blowing, And moist dew by the fields with whistling blast to be drying, Lest nights cold moisture might stay their lowly proceed, Stay brave Aeolides, stay brave Aurora fro kissing. Every thing did smile, woods, fields, air, watery fountains, Every lapwing sang, and made sweet mirth to the morning, And cheerful Charites with goldlocks gaily bedecked, Danced along by the fields in due and gratius order: And th'unruly satyrs by the sound of a paltry piper, Leapt and skipped by the woods, in most lascivious order. Only Amintas loathed these sports, and these pretty pastimes, Only Amintas mourned, and old griefs only remembered, Leaving house and home, and deserts only frequenting, Scratching face with nails, and Phillis freshly bewailing. O what means Phillis, can Phillis cast of Amintas. O consider, alas, consider careful Amintas, And forget not, alas, forget not faithful Amintas, Who for Phillis sake, for love and fancy to Phillis, Bears this fire in his heart, and still this fire is a feeding. What means Phillis alone in those fair fields to be walking, In those Elysian fair fields, and leave me behind her? What's there no more care of flock in Phillis abiding? What? no care of love, no care of lover Amintas? O unthankful wench, if this thing come by thy causing, And accursed fate, if destiny cause thee to leave me. See what a strange effect these cares have wrought in Amyntas Needless cares have driven all needful cares from Amintas. No care, no comfort in driving goats to the mountains, When rising Phoebus displays his beams in a morning. No care, no comfort in bringing sheep to the sheep coats, When sitting Phoebus withdraws his face in an euning. Rhymes are quite set a side, and seu'nholed pipe is abandoned, Rhymes that I played on pipe: pipe used at every dancing. Leather bottel's lost, and tarbox broken a sunder, shone, and mittens gone, and sheephook cast in a corner, And little old Lightfoot hath lost his master Amintas, Whose watchful barking made wolves afraid to be biting. See, how Phillis death doth make my goats to be dying. No body gives them time and other flowers to be gnapping, No body gives them drink and water fresh to be sipping, No body brings them back to the fold, or shade to refresh them. See, how Phillis death doth make my sheep to be dying, Whilst th'unlucky shepherd neglects his sheep to be feeding, Lambs in woeful wise by the wolves are daily devoured, Ewes in loathsome sort with scabs are foully molested, And their wool with dust and dirt is filthily fouled. O but, alas, poor fool, whilst thou thus rail'st on Olympus, Phillis fair, perchance in pleasant fields of Avernus, Keepeth better goats, and better sheep is a feeding, Leaving this poor flcok, and their poor master Amintas. And must only my death cause endless plagues to be ended? And shall I never die, till time that destiny pointed? O what a life is this, with life and death to be striving? And yet I love this life, this strife, and every moment Reason yields to my rage, and rage gives place to my reason. And whilst breath shall abide in burning breast of Amintas, Perpetual sobbing shall make these sides to be smarting, Perpetual plaining shall make this mouth to be sounding, Perpetual weeping shall make these eyes to be swelling. As soon as Titan with face all fiery returneth, With violent clamours great clouds will I cast on a cluster: As soon as dark night doth spread her mantle among us, With tears still trickling I'll make springs ever abounding. What loves like to my rage? what fancy's like to my folly? That not a day, not an hour, not a moment scapeth Amyntas, But still Amintas mourns, since Phillis grave was a making, That lewd Lord of love drew my destruction onward, That boy bred my bane, my death untimely procured, When by the sight of a lass, by the flaming eyes of a virgin Fire did pierce by my flesh, to my soul, to my bones, to my marrow, And there burns and boils like scalding sulphur of Aetna. Who would think thou love couldst bear such hate to a lover? Or wouldst work such harm to a countryman that is harmless? But bloody boy thou art, thou bearest bloody mind, bloody weapons. And thou most spiteful Nemesis, whose hasty revenging Hands are ever at hand: whose mind is mutable always, At miseries laughing, at men's felicity grudging, Why dared thou deal with? what didst thou mean to be meddling With loving Phillis, with Phillis lover Amyntas? If that Phillis I kissed▪ or Phillis kissed Amintas, If that Phillis I clipped, or Phillis clipped Amintas, If that I spent many hours in talking under a myrtle, Waste any great offence, any great disgrace to a Goddess? We were country folk, two seelly'st souls of a thousand, Those golden diadems, that state of a king, or a kingdom, Those vaunting titles, that pomp of a duke, or a dukedom, Those flaunting buildings, that pride of an Earl or an earldom, More fit for Nemesis: Phillis more fit for Amintas. Who would think thou couldst on beggars thus be triumphing? Why should silly shepherds be molested thus by a Goddess, Nay Godless Nemesis? for thou dost no body goodness, And where's no goodness, who thinks there can be a Goddess? And thou most hellish Lachesis, more fierce than a fury, What reason foundst thou such mischief for to be working, That by the griping pains, by the cold hot fits of an ague, Phillis fit for a man, should die thus afore she be fitted? O why shouldst thou take all comfort quite fro the country, And make country men thus comfortless to be mourning? Can not that sweet face, nor that most seemly behaviour, Nor that league of love still lasting lead thee to mercy? Who would think that thou wouldst have thus dealt with a milkmaid▪ But thy delight is death, and blood thou only desirest, Therefore bring me to death, take living blood from Amintas, For my delight is death; death only desireth Amintas, And to procure quick death, it's fully resolved by Amintas, That fair Phillis again may love her lover Amintas. And yet about euning, with staggering steps he returned. The last Lamentation, and the death of Amyntas. ANd now since Phillis dead corpse was laid in a coffin, Came th'eleventh day, when weak, yet wakeful Amintas Spied through tiles of his house, fair Phoebus' beams to be shining: Which when he saw, then in haste himself he began to be stirring, And with trembling knees, with mind extremely molested, Passed along to the fields, where grave of Phillis appeared: Meaning there to the grave, to the ghost, to the scattered ashes, His last lamenting in woeful wise to be making. But when he saw fresh flowers, and new grass speedily start up, And Phillis sweet name ingrau'n by the hand of Amintas, Then did he stay and weep with an inward horror amazed: And at length his knees on grave there faintilie bowing, With dolorous groanings, his fatal hour he bewailed. This day, this same day, most blessed day of a thousand, Shall be the first of joy, and last of anoie to Amintas, This shall bring me myself to myself, and bring me to Phillis. Let neither father, nor mother mourn for Amintas, Let neither kinsman, nor neighbour weep for Amintas, For Venus, only Venus, doth lay this death on Amintas, And Phillis sweet soul in fair fields stays for Amintas. If you needs will show some sign of love to Amintas, Then when life is gone, close up these eyes of Amintas, And with Phillis corpse lay this dead corpse of Amintas, This shall Phillis please, and Phillis lover Amintas, And thou, good Damon, drive forth those sheep of Amintas, Lest that Amintas sheep die with their master Amintas. And thou fair Amarillis, when thou gang'st to the mountains, drive on Phillis goats, fair Phillis goats to the mountains: For now 'tis certain, I'll leave this life for a better, And seek for mending in a most unnatural ending. Hills and dales farewell, you pleasant walks of Amintas, Wells and floods farewell, sometime the delight of Amintas, Now shall I never more my sorrows utter among you, Now shall I never more with clamours vainly molest you. Must then Amintas thus but a stripling murder Amintas? O what an imperious princess is Queen Cytheraea? For still watching love would never let me be resting, Nor never sleeping, since Phillis went from Amintas. And no longer I can sustain these infinite horrors, And pangs incessant, which now are freshly renewed, And much augmented: therefore am I fully resolved Of lingering loves wound to be speedily cured by a death's wound. Thus when he had contrived in his heart this desperate outrage, And meant fully to die, with an hellish fury bewitched; What do I stay, quoth he, now? 'tis loss of time to be lingering. Then with a fatal knife in a murdering hand; to the heavens Up did he look for a while; and groaned with a deadly resounding, With these words his life and Lamentation ending. Gods, and ghosts, forgive, forget this fault of Amintas, Pardon I crave of both: this knife shall bring me to Phillis, And end these miseries, though destiny flatly deny it. Even as he spoke these words down fell deep wounded Amintas, Fowling hands and ground with streams of blood that abounded. And good natured ground, pytying this fall of Amintas In most loving wise very gent'ly received Amintas And when he fell, by the fall, in mournful sort she resounded. jupiter in mean time, and th'other gods of Olympus, When they saw his case (though great things were then in handling,) Yet lamented much, and then decreed, that Amintas Soul, should go to the fields where blessed Phillis abideth, And bloody corpse should take both name & form of a fair flower Called Amaranthus; for Amintas friendly remembrance. Whilst these things by the gods were thus decreed in Olympus, Senses were all weak, and almost gone from Amintas, Eyes were quite sightles, death pangs and horror approached: Then with his head half up, most heavily groaned Amintas, And as he groaned, than he felt his feet to the ground to be rooted, And seeking for a foot, could find no foot to be sought for. For both legs and trunk to a stalk were speedily changed, And that his old marrow to a cold juice quickly resolved, And by the same cold juice this stalk still lively appeared. Which strange change when he felt, them he lifted his arms to the heavens, And when he lifted his arms, then his arms were made to be branches. And now, face and hear of Amintas lastly remained, O what mean, you gods, to prolong this life of Amintas? o what mean you gods, with an hollow sound he repeated, Until his hollow sound with a stalk was speedily stopped, And faireface and hear bare form and shape of a fair flower, Flower with fair red leaus, fair red blood gave the beginning. Then with bow and shaft and painted quiver about him uprose Lord of love, from Princelike seat in Olympus, And when 'twas too late lament's this loss of a lover, Speaking thus to the gods of this new flower of Amintas. Myrtle's due to Venus, green Laurell's due to Apollo, Corn to the Lady Ceres, ripe grapes to the young merry Bacchus, Popplar t'Alcides, and Olives unto Minerva, Gentle Amaranthus thou fairest flower of a thousand Shalt be my flower henceforth, & though thou cam'st from a bleeding, Yet blood shalt thou staunch: this gift will I give thee for ever: And by the pleasant fields where gentle minded Amintas Lately bewailed his love, there thy leave's lovely for ever Boys, and girls, and nymphs shall take a delight to be plucking, Take a delight of them their garlands gay to be making. And now in mean time whilst these things were thus a working, Good loving neighbours for a long time miss Amintas, And by the caves of beasts, by the dungeons dark, by the deserts, And by the hills, by the dales, by the wells and watery fountains, Sought for Amintas long, but never met with Amintas. FINIS. Faults escaped. A the first page, line 14. wanteth a period at the end. The same page, for outrageous read outragius. Page 2. line 2. for bushing read blushing. Page 5. line 4. for loved read loved. The last line of the same page, for fearful read fearful. Page sixth, line 4. for throat read throat. Page 7. for shall read shall. Page 8. for Lephyrus read Zephyrus. In the same for venomous read venomous. B. In B. the 3. page, 2. line, for cause thee yield, read cause to yield. 5. page line 15. at the end of the line a comma too much. Page 7. line 26. for way read was. C. In C. the second page, for woeful read woeful. Page 3. line 1. for outward read onward. Line 6. of the same page, for captain read captain. Line 8. for heycock read heycocks. Page 5. for boisterous read boysterus. Page 8. line 11. for sign read signs. D. In D. page 2. line 8. for wanted read wont. Page 3. for will read will, also for shall read shall. Ibid. line 31. for Amintas read Avernus.