THE SHEPHERDS Hunting: Being, CERTAIN EGLOGS written during the time of the Author's Imprisonment in the Marshalsey.  
BY GEORGE WITHER, Gentleman.  
LONDON: Printed by THOMAS SNODHAM for George Norton, and are to be sold at the sign of the red-Bull, near Temple-bar. 1615.   

TO THOSE HONOURED, NOBLE, AND RIGHT Virtuous Friends, my Visitants in the Marshalsey: AND, TO ALL OTHER, MY UNKNOWN FAVOURITES, who either pivately, or publicly wished me well in my imprisonment.  
NOble Friends: you whose virtues made me first in love with Virtue: and whose worths, made me be thought worthy of your loves. I have now at last (you see) by God's assistance and your encouragement, run through the P●…rgatory of imprisonment: and by the worthy favour of a just PRINCE, stand free again, without the lea●…t touch of dejected baseness. Seeing therefore I was grown beyond my Hope so fortunate, (after acknowledgement of my Creator's love, together with the unequalled Clemency of so gracious a Sovereign) I was troubled to think by what means I might express my thankfulness to so many well-deserving friends: No way I found to my desire; neither yet ability to perform when I found it. But at length considering with myself what you were, (that is) such, who favour honesty for no second reason but because you yourselves are good; and aim at no other reward but the witness of a sound conscience that you do well, I found that thankfulness would prove the acceptablest present to suit with your dispositions; and that I imagined could be no way better expressed then in manifesting your courtesies, and giving consent to your reasonable demands. For the first, I confess (with thanks to the disposer of all things, and a true gratef●…ll heart towards you,) so many were the unexpected visitations and unhoped kindnesses received both from some among you of my Acquaintance, and many other unknown Well●…illers of my Cause, that I was persuaded to entertain a much better conceit of the Time than I lately conceived, and assured myself that VIRTUE had far more followers than I supposed.  
Somewhat it disturbed me to behold our ages Favourites, whilst they frowned on my honest enterprises, to take unto their protections the egregiousts fopperics: yet much more was my contentm●…nt, in that I was respected by so many of You, amongst whom there are some, who can and may as much disesteem these, as they neglect me: nor could I fear their malice or contempt, whilst I enjoyed your favours, who (howsoever you are undervalved by fools for a time) shall leave unto your post●…ritie so noble a memory, that your names shall be reverenced by Kings, when many of these who now flourish with a show of usurped Greatness, shall either wear out of being, or despoiled of all their patched reputation, grow contemptible in the eyes of their beloved Mistress the World. Your love. is is that (enabling me with patience to endure what is already past) hath made me (also) careful better to prepare myself for all future misadventures, by bringing to my consideration, what the passion, of my just discontentments had almost quite banished from my remembrance.  
Further, to declare my thankfulness, in making app●…rant my willing mind to be commanded in any services of love, which you shall think fit (though I want ability to perform great matters) yet I have according to some of your requests been contented to give way to the printing of these Eglogues, which thoug●… it to many seem a sleight matter, yet being well considered of, may prove a strong argument of my readiness to gi●…e you content in a greater matter: for they being (as you well know) begotten with little care, and preserved with less respect, gave sufficient e●…idence that I meant (rather than any way to deceive your trust) to give the world occasion of calling my discretion in question, as I now assure myself This will: and the sooner, because such expectations (I perceive) there are of I know not what Inventions, as would have been frustrated though I had employed the utmost and very best of my endeavours.  
Notwithstanding, for your sakes, I have here adventured once again to make trial of the w●…rlds censures: and what hath received being, from your Loves, I here rededicated to your Worths, which if your noble dispositions will like well of: Or if you will but reasonab●…y respect what yourselves drew me unto, I shall be nothing displeased at others cavils, but resting myself contented with your good opinions, scorn all the rabble of uncharitable detractors: For none I know will malign it except those, who either particularly malice my person, or profess themselves enemies to my former Books; who (saving those that were incensed on others speeches) as divers of you (according to your protestations) have observed, are either open enemies of our Church; men notoriously guilty of some particular Abuses therein t●…xt, such malicious Crittickes who have the repute of being judicious, by detracting from others; or at best such Gulls, as never approve any thing good, or learned, but either that which their shallow apprehensions can apply to the soothing of their own opinions, or what (indeed rather) they understand not.  
Trust me, how ill soever it hath been rewarded, my love to my Country is inviolate: my thankfulness to you unfeigned, my endeavour to do every man good; all my aim content with honesty: and this my pains (if it may be so termed) more to avoid idleness, then for affectation of praise: an●… if notwithstanding all their, I must yet, not onel●… rest myself content that my innocency hath esc●… bed with strict imprisonment (to the impairing 〈◊〉 my state, and hindrance of my fortunes) but al●… be constrained to see my guiltless lines, suffer th●… despite of ill tongues: yet for my further encouragment, let me entreat the continuance 〈◊〉 your first respect, wherein I shall find that come for't as will be sufficient to make me set light an●… so much contemn all the malice of my adversaries that ready to burst with the venom of their own●… hearts, they shall see  

My Mind enamoured on fair virtues light  
Ascends the limits of their bleared sight,  
And placed above their Envy, doth contemn,  
Nay, sit and laugh at their disdain and them.   
But Noble Friends, I make question neither of yours, nor any honest man's respect, and therefore will no further urge it, nor trouble your patience: only this I'll say, that you may not think ●…e too well conceited of myself; though the Time●…ere ●…ere to blame in ill requiting my honest endea●…ours, which in the eyes of the world deserved ●…etter, ●…et somewhat I am assured there was in ●…ee worthy that punishment which when God shall ●…iue me grace to see and amend, I doubt not but ●…o find that regard as will be fitting for so much ●…erit as my labours may justly challenge. Mean while, the better to hold myself in esteem with you, and amend the world's opinion of Virtue, I will study to amend myself, that I may be yet more worthy to be called  
Your Friend, GEO. wither.   

The first Eglogue.  
ARGUMENT.  

WILLY leaves his ●…locke a while,  
Ui●…ites 〈◊〉 in exile;  
Where though prison'●…, he doth find  
He's still free that's free in Mind:  
And 〈◊〉 trouble no defence  
Is so ●…irme as Innocence.   

R●…T.  
WILLY.   

WI●…y, thou now full tolly tun'st thy Reed●…,  
Making the Aimphs enamou●…d on thy strains,  
And whilst thy harmless ●…locke vnscar●…d feeds,  
Hast though contentment, of Hills. Groves, and Plains:  
Trust me, ●…oy thou and thy Muse so speeds  
In such an Age, where so much mischief reigns:  
And to my Care it some redress will be,  
Fortune hath so much grace, to smile on thee.   WILLY. 

To smile on me? I near yet knew her smile,  
Unless 'twere when she purposed to deceive me;  
Many a Train, and many a painted wile  
She casts, in hope of Freedom to bereave me:  
Yet now, because she sees I scorn her guile  
To fawn on fools, she for my Muse doth leave me,  
And here of late, her wont spite doth tend,  
To work me care, by frowning on my friend.   ROGET. 

Why then I see her Copper-coyne's no starling,  
'T will not be currant still, for all the guilding,  
A Knave, or ●…oole must ever be her Darling:  
For they have minds to all occasions yielding:  
If we get any thing by all our parling  
It seems an Apple, but it proves a wielding:  
But let that pass; sweet Shepherd tell me this,  
For what beloved friend thy sorrow is.   WILLY. 

Wrong me not Roget: dost thou suffer here,  
And ask me for what friend it is I grieve?  
Can I suppose thy love to me is dear,  
Or this thy joy for my content believe:  
When thou think'st thy cares touch not me as near,  
Or that I pin thy sorrows at my sleeve?  
Roget, my faith in thee hath had that trust,  
I never thought to find thee so unjust.   ROGET. 

Why Willy? WILLY: Prithee do not ask me why,  
Doth it diminish any of thy care,  
That I in freedom maken melody,  
And think'st I cannot as well somewhat spare  
From my delight, to moon thy misery?  
'tis time our Loves should these suspects forbear:  
Thou art that friend; which thou vnnam'd shouldst know,  
And not have drawn my love in question so.   ROGET. 

Forgive me, and I'll pardon thy mistake,  
A●…d so shall this thy gentle-anger cease,  
(I never of thy love will question make)  
Whilst that the number o●… our day●…s increase,  
Yet to my se●…fe, I much might seem to take,  
And something near unto presumption press:  
To think me worthy love from such a spirit,  
But that I know thy kindness, past my merit.   

Besid●…s; me thought thou spak'st now of a friend,  
That se●…m'd more grieu●…us discontents to bear,  
Some things I find that do in show offend,  
Which to my Patience little trouble are,  
And they e'er long I hope will have an end,  
Or though they have not, much I do not care:  
So this it was made me that question move,  
And not suspect of honest Willies love.   WILLY. 

Alas, thou art exiled from thy ●…locke,  
And quite beyond the Deserts here confined,  
Hast nothing to converse with but a Rock,  
Or at least Outlaws in their Caves half pined,  
And do'●…t thou at thy own misfortune mock,  
Making thyself to; to thyself unkind?  
When heretofore we talk'●… we did embrace:  
But now I scarce can come to see thy face.   ROGET. 

Yet all that, Willy, is not worth thy sorrow,  
For I have Mirth, here thou wouldst not believe,  
From de●…pest ca●…es the highest joys I borrow:  
If ought chance out this day, may m●…ke me grieve,  
I'll learn to mend, or scorn it by to morrow,  
This barren place yields somewhat to relieve:  
For I have found sufficient to content me,  
And more true bliss, than ever freedom lent me.   WILLY. 
Are Prisons then grown places of delight?  ROGET. 

'tis as the conscience of the Prisoner is,  
The very Grates are able to affright  
The guilty Man, that knows his deeds amiss,  
All outward Pleasures are exiled quite,  
And it is nothing (of itself) but this:  
Abhorred-loanenesse, darkness. sadness, pains,  
Num'●…-cold, sharp-hunger, scorching thirst & chains.   WILLY. 
And these are not●…ing?  ROGET. 

—— Nothing yet to me,  
Onel●… my friend's restraint is all my pain,  
And since I truly find my conscience free  
From that my loanen●…sse to, I reap some gain.   WILLY. 

But grant in this no discontentment be,  
It doth thy wished liberty restrain,  
And to thy soul I think there's nothing nearer,  
For I could never hear thee prize ought dearer.   ROGET. 

True, I did ever set it at a Rate,  
Too dear for any Mortal's worth to buy,  
'tis not our greatest Shepherd's whole estate,  
Shall purchase from me, my least liberty,  
But I am subject to the powers of Fate,  
And to obey them is no slavery:  
They may do much, but when they have done all,  
Only my body they may bring in thrall.   

And 'tis not that (my Willy) 'tis my mind,  
My mind's more precious freedom I so weigh  
A thousand ways they may my body bind,  
In thous●…d 〈◊〉▪ ●…ut 〈◊〉 m●… mind ●…etray,  
And ●…●…ce it is that I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉,  
And bear with 〈◊〉 th●… my 〈◊〉 away:  
I'm 〈◊〉 myself, a●…d that I'd rat●…er be,  
Then to be Lord of all th●…e Downs in see.   WILLY. 

No●…ly 〈◊〉 and I do joy to hear'●…,  
For 'tis the mind of Man indeed that's all,  
There's n●…ught so hard but a ●…rake 〈◊〉 will bea●…'t,  
And 〈◊〉 men co●…t great 〈◊〉 small,  
The●…'le look on ' Death and Torment, yet not fear't,  
Because they 〈◊〉 'tis rising so to 〈◊〉:  
Ty●…ants n av boast they to much power are borne,  
Yet he hath more that Tyrannies can scorn.   ROGET. 

'Tis right, but I no Tyrannies endure,  
Nor ●… au●… I suffered aught worth name of care.   WILLY. 

What e'er thou'lt call't, thou mayst, but I am sure,  
Many more pine that much less pained are,  
Thy look me thinks doth say thy meaning's pure,  
And by this past I find what thou dost da●…e:  
But I could never yet the reason know,  
Why thou ●…rt lodged in this house of woe.   ROGET. 

Nor I by Pan, no●… never hope to do,  
But 〈◊〉 it pleases some; and I do guess  
●…tly a cause that moves them thereunto,  
Which neither will avail me to express,  
Nor thee to hear, and therefore let it go,  
We must not say, they do so, that oppress:  
Yet I shall ne'er to soothe them or the times,  
Injure my sel●… by bearing others crimes.   WILLY. 

Then now thou mayst speak freely, there's none hears,  
But he wh●…m I do hope thou dost not doubt.   ROGET. 

True; but if doors and walls have gott●… ears,  
And Closet-whispering may be spread abou●…:  
Do not blame him that in such causes fears  
What in his Passion he may blunder out:  
In such a place, and such strict times as these,  
Where what we speak is took as others please.   

But yet to morrow if thou come this way,  
I'll tell thee all my story to the end,  
'tis long, and now I fear thou canst not stay,  
Because thy Flock must watered be and penned,  
And Night begins to muffle up the day,  
Which to inform thee how alone I spend,  
I'll only sing a sorry Prisoners Lay,  
I f●…m'd this Morn, which though it suits not fields,  
Is such as fits me, and sad Thraldom yields,   WILLY. 

Well, I will set my Kit another string,  
And play unto it whilst that thou dost sing▪   

SONNET.  ROGET. 

NOw that my body dead-alive,  
Bereaved of comfort lies in thr all.  
Do thou my soul begin to thrive,  
And unto Honey, turn this Gall:  
So shall we both through outward woe,  
The way to inward comfort know.   

For as that Food my Flesh I give,  
Doth ●…eepe in me this Mortal breath:  
So souls on Meditations live,  
And shun thereby immortal ' Death:  
Nor art thou ever nearer rest.  
Then when thou findest me most oppressed.   

●…irst think my soul; if I have Foes  
That take a pleasure in my care,  
And to procure these outward woes,  
Have thus entrapped me unaware:  
Thou shouldst by much more ●…arefull be,  
Since greater Foes lay wait for thee.   

Then when Mewed up in grates of steel,  
Minding those joys mine eyes do miss,  
Thou findest no Torment tho●… dost feel.  
So 〈◊〉 as Privation is▪  
Muse how the damned in s●…ames that glow,  
Pine in the loss of ●…lisse they know.   

Thou seest there's given so great might  
To some that are but clay 〈◊〉 l,  
Their very anger can affright.  
Which if in any thou espy  
Thus think of mortal's frowns stri●…e sear,  
How dreadful will God's wrath appear?   

By my late hopes that now are crossed,  
Consider those that firmer be,  
And make the freedom I have lo●…t,  
A means that may remember thee  
Had Christ not thy Redeemer b●…n,  
What horrid 〈◊〉 thou hadst been in   

These iron chains the bolt's of steel.  
Which other poor offenders grind,  
The wants, and cares which they do feel●…  
May bring some greater thing to mind  
For by their 〈◊〉 thou shalt do we●…,  
To think upon the pains of Hell.   

Or when through me, thou 〈◊〉 a Man  
Condemned unto a mortal 〈◊〉,  
How sad he looks, how pale how wan,  
Drawing with Fear his panting brea●…h  
Think i●… in that such grief thou see,  
How sad will, Go ye cuised be.   

Again, when he that feared to Die  
(Past hope) doth see his Pardon brought,  
Read but the joy that's in his eye,  
And then 〈◊〉 it to thy thought:  
There t●…inke betwixt my heart and thee,  
How sweet will, come ye blessed, be   

Thus if thou do, though closed ●…ere,  
My bondage I shall deem the less,  
I neither shall have cause to fear,  
Nor yet bewa●…le my sad distress:  
For whether li●…e, or pine, or die,  
We shall have bl●…sse 〈◊〉.    WILLY. 

Trust me I see the Cage doth some Birds good,  
And if they do not suffer too much wrong,  
Will teach them sweeter descants than the Wood:  
Believe't, I like the subject of thy Song▪  
It shows thou art in no distempered mood,  
But cause to hear the residue I long:  
My Sheep to morrow I will nearer bring,  
And spend the day to hear thee talk and sing.   

Yet ere we part, Roget to me aread,  
Of whom thou learned to make such Songs as these,  
I never yet heard any shepherds reed  
Tune in mishap, a strain that more could please,  
Surely thou dost invoke at this thy need.  
Some power, that we neglect in other lays:  
For here's a Name, and words, that but few swains  
Have mentioned at their meeting on the Plains.   ROGET. 

Indeed 'tis true; and they are sore to blame,  
They do so much neglect it in their Songs,  
For, thence proceedeth such a worthy fame,  
As is not subject unto envies wrongs:  
That is the most to be respected name  
Of our true Pan, whose worth sit●… on all tongues:  
And the most ancient Shepherds use to praise  
In sacred Anthems sung on Holidays.   

He that first taught his Music such a s●…raine,  
Was that sweet Shepherd, who (until a King)  
Kept She●…pe upon the honey milky Plain,  
That is enriched by Iordans watering;  
He in his troubl●…s ca●…'d the body's pains,  
By measures raised to the s●…ules ravishing:  
And his sweet numbers only most divine,  
Gave the first being to this Song of mine.   WILLY. 

Let his good spiri●… e'er with thee dw●…ll,  
That I might hear such Mulicke every day.   ROGET. 

Thanks; but would now it pleased thee to play.  
Yet sure'tis late thy Weather rings his Bell,  
And Swains to fold, or homeward drive away.   WILLY. 

And yond goes Cuddy, therefore fare thou well:  
I'll make his Sheep for me a liule s●…ay,  
And if thou think it fit I'll bring him to,  
Next morning hither.   ROGET. 
Prithee Willy do.  
FINIS.   

The second Eglogue.  
ARGUMENT.  

CUDDY tells how all the Swains,  
Pity ROGET on the Plains:  
Who requested, doth relate  
The true cause of his estate,  
Which bro●…e o●…f becau'e '●was long.  
They begin a threemans' Song.   

WILLY.  
CUDDY.  
ROG●…T.   

ROget, thy old friend Cuddy here and I,  
Are come to visit thee in these thy bands,  
Whilst both our Floc●…es in an Enclosure by  
do pick the thin gra●…se from the fallowed lands.  
He tells me thy restraint of liberty  
Each one throughout the Country understands:  
And there is not a gentle-natured Lad,  
On all these ' Downs but for thy sake is sad.   CUDDY. 

Not thy acquaintance and thy friends alone.  
Pity thy close restraint, as friends should do:  
But some that have but scene thee for thee moan:  
Yea, many that did never see thee to.  
Some deem●… thee in a fault, and most in none;  
So divers ways do divers rumours go:  
And at all meetings where our Shepherds be,  
Now the main Mews that's extant is of thee▪   ROGET. 

Why, this is somewhat yet: had I but kept  
Sheep on the Mountaives, till the day of doom,  
My name should in obscurity have sl●…pt,  
In Brakes, in Briars▪ shrubbed Furze and Broom▪  
Into the world's wide care it had not crept,  
Nor in so many men's thoughts found a room:  
But what cause of my s●…ffe in●…s doethey know?  
Good Cuddy t●…ll me how doth rumour go.   CUDDY. 

Faith 'tis uncertain, some speak this, some that:  
Some dare say nought, yet seem to think a cause,  
And many a one prating he knows not what;  
Comes out with proverbs and old ancient saws,  
As if he thought thee guiltless, and y●…t not:  
Then doth he speak half sentences, than pause:  
That what the most would say, we may suppose,  
But what to say the rumour is, none knowe●….   ROGET. 

Nor care I greatly, for it skills not much,  
What the unsteady common-people deems,  
His conscience doth not always feel least touch,  
That blameless in the sight of others seems:  
My cause is honest, and because 'tis such,  
I hold it so, and not for men's esteems:  
If they spea●…e justly well of me, I'm glad;  
If 〈◊〉, eu●…ll, it ne'er makes me sad.   WILLY. 

I like that mind, but Roget you are quite  
Beside the matter that I long to hear:  
Remember what you promised yesternight,  
you'd put us off with other talk I fear;  
Thou knowst that honest Cuddies heart's upright,  
And none but he, except myself is near:  
Come therefore, and betwixt us two relate  
The true occasion of thy present state.   ROGET. 

My friends I will; You know I am a Swain,  
That kept a poor Flock here upon this Plain,  
Who though it seems, I could do nothing less,  
Can make a Song, and woe a Shepherdess,  
And not alone the fairest where I live,  
Have heard me sing, and favours deigned to give:  
But though I say'●…, the noblest Nymph of Thame,  
Hath graced my Verse unto my greater same.  
Yet being young, and not much see▪ ing praise,  
I was not noted out for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉,  
N●…r f●…eding ●…lockes, yea▪ noun as others be:  
For the delight that most 〈◊〉 me  
Was 〈◊〉 Foxes, W●…lues, and Beasts of Pray▪  
That spoi●…e our Foulis, and bear our L●…mbs away:  
F●…r this as a●…so for the love I bear  
Unto m●… Country, 〈◊〉 by all ●…are  
Of 〈◊〉. or of 〈◊〉, with desire  
〈◊〉 to keep that state I had entire,  
And like a true gro●… 〈◊〉 man sought to speed  
My self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of ra e and choicest 〈◊〉,  
Whose Names and Natures ere I further go,  
〈◊〉 you are my friends I'll let you know.  
My 〈◊〉 esteemed D 〈◊〉 that I did find,  
Was by 〈◊〉 of ●…lde 〈◊〉 kind;  
A Bra●…e, which if I do not aim amiss,  
For all the world is ●…ust i●…e one o●… his;  
She's named Love, and scarce yet know●…s her duty;  
Her Dam s my L●…d es pretty Beagle 〈◊〉  
I bred her up myself with wondrous charge,  
Until she grew to be exceeding large,  
And waxed so wanton that I did abhor it,  
And put her out amongst my Neighbours for it.  
The next is Lust, a Hound that's kept abroad,  
'mongst some of mine acquaintance, but a Toad  
Is not more loathsome: 'tis a Cur will range  
Extremely, and is ever ●…ull of mange,  
And cause it is infectious, she's not wont  
To come among the rest, but when they hunt.  
Hate is the third, a Hound both despe and long.  
His Sire is True, or else supposed wrong.  
He'll have a snap at all that pass him by,  
And yet pursues his game most eagerly.  
With him goes Eni●…e coupled, a lean Curre●…  
And she'll hold out hunt we ●…e're so far,  
She pineth much, and seedeth little to,  
Yet stands and snarleth at the ●…est that do.  
Then there's Revenge, a wondrous deep-mouthed dog,  
So fleet, I'm feign to hunt him with a clog,  
Y●…t many times he'll much outstrip his bounds,  
And hunts not closely with the other Hounds,  
He'll venture on a Lion in his 〈◊〉  
Cursed 〈◊〉 was his dam, and wrong his Sire.  
This Choler is a Brache, that's very old,  
And spends her mouth too much to have it hold:  
She's very tasty, an unpleasing Cur,  
That ●…ites the very stones, if they but stir:  
Or when that aught but her displeasure moves,  
She'll bite and snap at any one she loves:  
But my quicke-sented'st Dog is jealousy,  
The truest of this breedes in Italy:  
The Dam of mine would hardly fill a Glove,  
It was a Ladies little Dog, called Love:  
The Sire a poor deformed Cur named Fear,  
As shagged and as rough as is a Bear,  
And yet the Whelp turned after neither kind,  
For he is very large, and ne're-hand blind.  
At the first sight he hath a pretty colour,  
But doth not seem so when you view him fuller.  
A vile suspicious beast, his looks are bad,  
And I do fear in time he will grow mad.  
To him I couple Avarice, still poor,  
Yet she devours as much as twenty more:  
A thousand Horse she in her paunch can put,  
Yet whine as if she had an empty gut,  
And haviug gorged what might a land have found,  
She'●…e catch for more, and hide it in the ground.  
Am●…ition is a Hound as greedy full,  
But he for all the daintiest bits doth cull:  
He scorns to lick up crumbs beneath the Table,  
〈◊〉 f●…tch't from boa●…ds and shelves if he be ab c,  
Nav, he can climb if need be, and for that,  
With him I hunt the Martin and the Cat.  
And yet sometimes in mounting he's so quick,  
He fet●…hes falls, are like to break his neck.  
Fear is well-mouthed, but subject to 〈◊〉,  
A stranger cannot make him take a crust.  
A little thing will soon his courage quail,  
And 'twixt his legs he ever claps his tail.  
With him Despair often coupled goes,  
Which by his roaring mouth each huntsman knows.  
None hath a better mind unto the game,  
But he gives off, and always seemeth lame.  
My blo●…d-hound Cruelty. as swift as wind,  
Hunts to the death, and never comes behind;  
Who but she's strapt and muzzled to withal,  
Would eat her sellowes, and the pray and all,  
And yet she car●…s not much for any food,  
Unless it be the purest harmless blood.  
All thes●… are kept abroad at charge of many,  
They do not cost me in a year a penny.  
But there's two coupling of a middling size,  
That seldom pass the sight of my own eyes.  
Hope, on whose head ●…'ue led my life to pawn.  
Compassion, that on every one will fawn.  
This would when 'twas a Whelp with Rabbits play,  
Or Lambs, and let them go unhurt away:  
Nay, now she is of growth, she'll now and then,  
Catch you a Hare, ●…nd let her go again.  
The two last, joy and Sorrow, 'tis a wonder,  
Can ne'er agree, nor ne'er ●…ide fa●…re ●…sunder.  
joy's ●…uer wanton, and no order knows,  
She'll run at Larks, or stand and bark at Crowe●….  
〈◊〉 goes by her, and ne'●…e moves his eye,  
Yet both do s●…rue to help make up the cry:  
Then comes behind all these t●… bear the base,  
Two 〈◊〉 more of a larger Race,  
Such wide mouthed Trollops, that 'twould do you good  
To hear their loud land Echoes tea●…e the wood.  
〈◊〉 Uanity, who by his gaud●… hide,  
May far away from all the rest be spied,  
Though huge, yet quick, for he's now here, now there,  
Nay, look about you, and he's every where,  
And ever with the rest, and still in chase:  
Right so, Inconstancy fills every place,  
And y●…t so strange a sickle natured Hound,  
Look●… for him, and he's no where to be found,  
Wea●…enesse is no fair dog unto the eye,  
And yet he hath his proper quality:  
But there's Presumption when he heat hath got,  
He drowns the Thunder, and the canonshot:  
And when at Start he his full roaring makes,  
The earth doth tremble, and the Heaven shakes.  
These were my Dogs, ten couple just in all,  
Whom by the name of Sa●…yres I do call:  
Mad Curs they be and I can ne'er come night them,  
But l'me in danger to be bitten by them.  
Much pains I took, and spent days not a few,  
To make them keep together, and hunt true:  
Which yet I do suppose had never been,  
But that I had a Scourge to keep them in.  
Now when that I this Kennel first had got,  
Out of my own demeans I hunted not,  
Save on these Downs, or among yonder Rocks,  
After those Beas●…s that spoiled our Parish Flocks:  
Nor during that time, was I ever wont,  
With all my Kennel in one day to hunt:  
Nor had done yet, but that this other year,  
Some Beasts of Pray, that haunts the Deserts here  
Did not alone for many nights together  
Devour, sometime a Lamb, sometime a Weather,  
And so disquiet many a poor man's Herd,  
But that of losing all they were afeard:  
Yea, I among the rest did sare as bad,  
Or rather worse for the best 
* Hopes.  Ewes I had,  
(Whose breed should be my means of 〈◊〉 & gain)  
Were in one Evening by these Monster's 〈◊〉:  
Which Mischief I resolved to repay,  
Or else grow desperate, and hunt all away,  
For in a fury (such as you shall see  
Huntsmen in missing of their sport will be)  
I vowed a Monster should not lurk about,  
In all this Province, but I'd find him out,  
And thereupon without respect or care,  
How lame, how full, or how unfit they were.  
In haste unkenneled all my roaring crew,  
Who were as mad as if my mind they knew,  
And e'er they trailed a flightshot, the fierce Curs  
Had roused a Hart, and through Brakes and Furs.  
Followed at gaze so close that Love and Fear  
Got in together, so had surely there  
Quite over thrown him, but that Hope thrust in  
〈◊〉 both, and saved the pinching of his skin,  
Whereby he scap't, till coursing overthwart,  
〈◊〉 came in, and gripped him to the heart,  
I hallowed in the resdue to the fail,  
And for an entrance there I fleshed them all,  
Which having done, I dipped my staff in blood,  
And on●…ard led my Thunder to the ●…ood,  
Where what they did, I'll tell you out anon,  
My keeper calls me, and I must be gone.  
Go if you please a while, attend your Flocks,  
And when the Sun is over yonder Rocks,  
Come to this Ca●…e again where I will be,  
If that my Guardian so much favour me.  
But e'er we part, let each one sing a strain,  
And then go turn your Sheep into the Plain   WILIY. 
I am content.  CUDDY. 
As well content am I  ROGET. 
Then Will, Begin, and we'll the rest supply.  

SONG.  WILLY. 

Shepherd would these Gates were open,  
Thou mightst take with us thy fortune.   ROGET. 

No, I'll make this narrow scope,  
Since my Fate doth so importune  
Means unto a wider hope.   CUDDY. 

Would thy Shepherdess were here.  
Who believed, loves thee so dearly.   ROGET. 

Not for both your Flocks I swear.  
And the same they yield you yearly,  
Would I so much wrong my Dear,   

Yet to me, nor to this Place,  
Would she now be long a stranger,  
She would hold it no disgrace,  
(〈◊〉 she 〈◊〉 not more my danger)  
Where I am to shewber face.   WILLY. 

Shepherd, we would wish no harms,  
But something that might co●…tent thee.   ROGET. 

Wish me then within her arms,  
And that wish will ne'er repent me,  
If your wishes might prove charms.   WILLY. 

Be thy Prison her embrace,  
Be thy air her sweetest breathing.   CUDDY. 

Be thy prospect her fair Face,  
For each look a kiss bequeathing,  
And appoint thyself the place.   ROGET. 

Nay pray, hold there, for I should scantly then;  
Come meet you here this afternoon again:  
But fare you well. since wishes have no power,  
Let us depart, and keep the pointed hours.    
FINIS.   

The third Eglogue.  
ARGUMENT.  

ROGET set with his three friends,  
Here his hunting story ends;  
Kind ALEXIS with much ruth,  
wails the banished shepherds youth:  
But he slighteth Fortune's stings,  
And in spite of Thraldom sings.   

ROGET.  
CUDDY.  
ALEXIS.  
WILLY.   

SO now I see y'are Shepherds of your word,  
Thus were you wont to promise, and to do.   CUDDY. 

More than our promise is we can afford,  
We come ourselves, and bring another to:  
Alexis whom thou knowst well, is no foe  
Who loves thee much, and I do know that he  
Would feign a hearer of thy Hunting be.   ROGLI. 

Alexis you are welcome, sor you know  
You cannot be but welcome where I am,  
You ever were a friend of mine in show:  
And I have found you are indeed the same,  
Upon my first restraint you hither came,  
And proffered me more tokens of your love,  
Than it were fit my small deserts should prove.   ALEXIS. 

'tis still your use to underprize your merit,  
Be not so coy to take my proffered love;  
'Twill neither unbeseeme your worth nor spirit,  
To offer curt●…sie doth thy friend behove,  
And which are so, this is a place to prove:  
Then once again I say, if cause there be,  
First make a trial, if thou please, of me.   ROGET. 

Thanks good Alexis; sit down by me here,  
I have a task, these Shepherds know, to do;  
A Tale already told this Morn well near.  
With which I very fain would forward go,  
And am as willing thou shouldst hear it to:  
But thou canst never understand this last,  
Till I have also told thee what is past.   WILLY. 

Roget it shall not need, for I presumed,  
Your loves to each were firm, and was so bold,  
That so much on myself I have assumed,  
To make him know what is already told:  
If I have done amiss then you may scold.  
But in my telling I prevised this,  
He knows not whose, nor to what end it is:   ROGET. 

Well now he may, for here my Tale goes on,  
My eager Dogs and I to Wood are gone,  
Where beating through the Coverts every Hound  
A several Game had in a moment found:  
I rated them▪ but they pursued their prey,  
And as it fell (by hap) took all one way.  
Then I began with quicker speed to follow,  
And ●…az'd them on with a more cheerful hollow,  
That soon we passed many weary miles,  
Tracing the subtle game through all these wiles.  
These doubled, they redoubled on the scent,  
Still keeping in ●…ull chase where ere they went,  
Up Hills, down 〈◊〉, through bogs, and over  
Stretching their 〈◊〉 to the highest strains (Plains,  
That when some Thicket hid them from mine eye,  
My care was ravished with their melody.  
Nor crossed we only Ditches, Hedges, Furrows,  
But Hamlets. ●…hings, Parishes, and Burrowes.  
They followed where so e'er the game did go  
Through Kitchen, Parlour, Hall, and Chamber too,  
And as they passed the City and the Court,  
My Prince looked out, and deigned to view my sport,  
Which then (although I suffer for it now)  
(If some say true) he liking, did allow;  
And so much (had I had but wi●… to stay)  
I might myself (perhaps) have heard him say,  
But I that time, as much as any daring,  
More for my pleasure then my safety caring;  
Seeing fresh game from every loop-hole rise,  
Crossing by thousands still before their eyes.  
After I rushed, and following close my Hounds  
Some Beasts I found lie dead, some full of wounds  
Among the Willows, scarce with strength to move  
One I found here, another there, whom Love  
Had gripped to death: and in the self-same state,  
Lav one devoured by Envy, one by Hate,  
Lust had bit some, but I soon past beside them,  
Their festered wounds so stunk, none could ablde  
Choler hurt divers, but Revenge killed more,  
Fear srighted all, behind him and before:  
〈◊〉 drove on a huge and mighty heap,  
Forcing some down from Roc●…es and hills to leap:  
Some into water, some into the fire,  
So on themselves he made them wreak his ire:  
But I remember as I passed that way,  
Where the great Kin●… and Prince of Shepherds lay,  
About the walls were hid some once more known,  
That my fell Cur Ambition had o'erthrown.  
Many I heard pursued by Pity cry,  
And oft I say my Bloodhound Cruelty,  
Eating her passage even to the heart,  
Whither once gotten, she is loath to part.  
All pl●…'d it well, and made so loud a plea,  
'Twas heard through Britan▪ and beyond the Sea;  
Some rated them, some stormed, some liked the game,  
Some thought me worthy praise, some worthy blame.  
But I not fearing th'one, misteeming other,  
Both, in shrill hallows and loud ●…ernings smother:  
Yea, the strong me●…ed and my long-breathed crew,  
Seeing the 〈◊〉 increasing in their view,  
Grew the more frolic, and the courses length  
Gave better breath, and added to their strength;  
Which jove perceiving, for jove heard their cries  
Rumbling amongst the Spheres concavities:  
He marked their course and courages increase,  
Saving, 'twere pity such a chase should cease;  
And therewith swore their mouths should never waste  
But hunt as long's mortality did last.  
Soon did they feel the power of his great gift,  
And I began to find their pace more swift:  
I followed, and I rated, but in vain,  
Strived to o'ertake, or take them up again;  
They never stayed since, neither nights nor days,  
But to and fro still run a thousand ways:  
Yea often to this place where now I lie,  
They'll wheel about to cheer me with their cry;  
And one day in good time will vengeance take  
On some offenders, for their Master's sake:  
For know, my Friends, my freedom in this sort  
For them I lose, and making myself sport.   WILLY. 
Why Roget, was there any harm in this?  ROGET. 
No Willy, and I hope yet none there is.  WILLY. 
How comes this then?  ROGET. 

Note and I'll tell thee how.  
Thou knowst that Truth and Innocency now,  
If placed with meanness, suffers more despite  
Than Uillanies, accompanied with might:  
But thus it fell, while that my Hound pursued  
Their noisome prey, and every field lay strewed  
With Monsters, hurt and slain 'mongst many a beast,  
Some viler, and more subtle than the rest,  
On whom the Bitch called Envy, happed to light:  
And as her won●… is, did so surely b●…te,  
That though she left behind small outward smarts,  
The wounds were deep, and wrankled to their hearts.  
Then joining to some other that of late  
Were very eagerly pursued by Hate,  
To fit their purpose having taken leisure,  
Did thus conspire to work me a displeasure.  
For imitation far supassing Apes,  
They laid aside their Fox, and Wolvish shapes.  
And shrouded in the skins of harmelesle she●…pe  
Into by-ways, and open-pathes did creep,  
Where they (as hardly drawing breath) did lie,  
Showing their wounds to every pas●…r by;  
To make them think that they were sheep so foi●…'d  
And by my dogs in their late hunting spoiled.  
Beside some other that envied my game,  
And for thei●… pastime kept such Monsters tame:  
As you do know there's many for their pleasure,  
Keep Foxes, Bears, and Wolves, as some great treasure:  
Yea, many get their living by them to,  
And so did store of these, I speak of do,  
Who seeing that my Kennel had affrighted,  
Or ●…urt som●… Uermine wherein they delighted,  
And finding their own power by much too weak  
Th●…ir Malice on my Innocence to wreak,  
Swollen with the deepest rancour of despite,  
Some of our greatest Shepherds folds by night  
They closely entered; and there having stained  
Their hands in 〈◊〉, of me they plained,  
Affirming, without shame or honesty,  
I and my Dogs had done it purposely:  
Whereat they stor●…'d, and called me to a trial,  
Where Inn●…cence prevails not, nor denial,  
But for that 〈◊〉 here in this place I lie,  
Where none so merry as my dogs and I.   CVDD●…. 

Believe it, here's a Tale will su●…en 〈◊〉,  
For 〈◊〉 in another Age to tell.   WIIIY. 

And Roget shall be thought on with delight,  
For this hereafter many a Winter's night,  
For of this sport another Age will ring:  
Yea, Nymphs unborn now, of the same shall sing,  
When not a beauty on our greene's shall play  
That hath not heard of Rogets hunting day.   ROG●…T. 

It may be so, for it that gentle Sw●…ine,  
Who wonnes by Ta●…y, on the western plain,  
Would make the Song, such life his ver●…e can give,  
Then I do know my Nam●… might ever live.   ALEXIS. 

But tell me; are our Plains and Nymphs forgot,  
And canst thou 〈◊〉 in thy trouble be?   ROG●…T. 

Can I Alexis saust thou? Can I not  
That am resolved to scorn more m●…sery?   AIEXIS. 

Oh, but thy youth's yet green, and young blood hot,  
And liberty must n●…eds be sweet to thee,  
But now most s●…eet whilst every bushy 〈◊〉,  
And groan and 〈◊〉, rings of the Nightingale.   

Me thinks when thou remember'st those sweet jays,  
Which thou wouldst lead thy Shepherdess to hear  
E●…ch evening forth among the Leau●… sprays,  
The thought of that should make thy freedom dear;  
For now whilst every Nymph on Holy-da●…es  
〈◊〉 with some 〈◊〉 Lad, and maketh cheer,  
Thine sighs for thee, and mewed up from resort,  
Will neither play herself, nor see their sport.   

There's Shepherds that were many a morning wont  
Unto their Boys to leave the ●…ender Herd,  
And bear thee company when thou didst hunt,  
Cannot their songs thou hast so gladly heard,  
Northy m●…st pleasure make thee think upon't,  
But seems all vain, now that was once endeared.  
It cannot be, for I could make relation,  
How for less cause thou hast been deep in passion.   ROGET. 

Ti●… true: my tender heart was ever yet  
Too cap●…ble of such conoeits as these;  
I never s●…w that Object but from it,  
The Passions of my Love, I could encre●…se  
Those things which move not other men a whi●…,  
I can, and do make use of, if I please:  
When I am sad, to sadness I apply,  
Each Bird, and Tree, and Flower that I pass by.   

So when I will be merry, I aswell  
Something for mirth from every thing can draw,  
From Misery, from Prisons, nay from Hell,  
And as when to my mind, grief gives a flaw,  
Best comforts d●…e but make my woes more fell,  
So when I'm bend to M●…rth, from mischiefs paw  
(Though ceased upon me) I would something cull,  
That spite of care should make my joys more full.   

I feel those wants Alexis thou dost name,  
Which spite of ●…outh's affections I sustain;  
Or else for what is't I have gotten fame,  
And am more known than many an elder Swain?  
If such desires I had not learned to ●…ame,  
Since many pipe much better on this Plain:  
But tune your Reeds, and I will in a Song  
Express my Care, and how I take this wrong.   

SONNET.  

I That ere'st-while the world's sweet Air did draw,  
(Graced by the farrest ever Mortal saw;)  
Now closely penned, with walls of Ruth less stone,  
Consume my Days, and Nights, and all-alone.   

When I was wont to sing of shepherds loves,  
My walks were Fields, and Downs, and Hills, and Groves,  
But now (alas) so sirict is my hard doom,  
Fields, Downes, Hills, Groves, & als but one poor room.   

Each Morn assoon as Daylight did appear,  
With Nature's Music Birds would charm mine ear;  
Which now (in●…ead) of their melodious strains,  
Hear rattling shackles, gives, and bolts, and chains.   

But though that all the world's delight forsake me,  
I have a Mu●…e and s●…e 〈◊〉 Music make me;  
Whose a●…y Notes inspite of 〈◊〉 cages,  
Shall give content to me, and afterages,   

Nor do I pass for all this outward ill.  
My heart's the ●…ame, and vnde●…ected still;  
And whic●… is more than some in freedom win;  
I hau●… true rest, and peace, and joy within.   

And then my Mind that s●…ight of prison's free,  
When er●…e she pleases, any where can be;  
she's in an hour in France, Room, Turkey, Spain,  
In Earth, in Hell, in Heaven, and here again.   

Yet there's another comfort in my w●…e,  
My ca●…se is spread, and all ●…he world doth know  
My ●…ault's no more but speaking Truth and Reason,  
Nor Debt, nor Theft, nor Murder, ●…ape, nor Treason.   

Nor shall my Foes with all their Might and Power,  
Wi●…e out their s●…ame, nor yet this Fame of our  
Which when they ●…inde they shall my Fate envy,  
Till they grow lean, and sick, and mad, and dy●….   

Then though my Body here in Prisonrot,  
And my poor 〈◊〉 seem a while forgot,  
Yet when both Fame and Life have left those men,  
My 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and live again.   

So thus 〈◊〉, I bear afflictions load,  
But with mo●…e true content then some abroad;  
For whil●…st 〈◊〉 thoughts do feel my scourges sting▪  
In bands I'll leap●…, and daunc●… and laugh, and sing.    ALEXIS. 

Why now I see thou dioup'st not with thy care,  
Neither exclaim'st thou on thy hunting day,  
But dost with unchanged resolution bear,  
The heavy burden of exile away,  
All that did truly know thee did conceive,  
Thy actions with thy spirit still agreed;  
Their good conceit thou dost no whit bereave,  
But showest that thou art still thyself indeed.  
If that thy mind to baseness now descends,  
Thou'lt injure Virtue, and deceive thy friends.   WILLY. 

Alexi●…, he will injure Virtue much,  
But more his friends, and most of all himself,  
If on that common bar his mind but touch,  
It wracks his same upon disgraces shelf:  
Yet Roget, if thou steer but on the course,  
That in thy just adventure is begun;  
No thwarting Tide, nor adverse blast shall force  
Thy Bark without the Channels bounds to run,  
Thou art the same thou wert for aught I see,  
When thou didst freely on the Mountains hunt,  
In nothing changed yet, unless it be  
More merrily disposed than thou wert wont,  
Still keep thee thus, so other men shall know,  
Virtue can give content in midst of woe.  
And he though mightiness with frowns doth threat,  
To be yet Innocent is to be great.  
Thrive and farewell.   ALEXIS. 
In this thy trouble flourish.  CUDDY. 
While those that wish thee ill, fret, pine, and perist●….  
FINIS.   

To his truly beloved loving Friend, Mr. WILLIAM BROWNE, of the Inner Temple.  
The fourth Eglogue.  
ARGUMENT.  

ROGET here on WILLY calls,  
To sing out his Pastorals:  
Warrants Fame shall orace his Rhymes,  
Spite of Envy and the Times;  
And shows how in care he uses,  
To take comfort from his Muses.   

ROGET.  
WILLY.   

Prithee WILLY tell me this,  
What new accident there is,  
That thou (once the blythest Lad)  
Art become so wondrous sad?  
And so careless of thy quill,  
As if thou hadst lost thy skill.  
Thou wert wont to charm thy Flocks,  
And among these rudest rocks  
Hast so cheered me with thy Song,  
That I have forgot my wrong.  
Something hath thee surely crossed,  
That thy old wont thou hast lost,  
Tell me, Have I ought mis-said  
That hath made thee illa-paid?  
Hath some Churl done thee a spite?  
Dost thou m●…le a Lamb to night?  
Frowns thy fairest Shepherds Lass?  
Or how comes this ill to pass?  
Is there any discontent  
Worse than this my banishment?   WILLY. 

Why, doth that so evil seem  
That thou nothing worse dost deem?  
Shepherd, there full many be,  
That will change Contents with thee.  
Those that choose their walks at will,  
On the Valley or the Hill.  
Or those pleasures boast of can  
Groves or fields may yield to man:  
Never come to know the rest  
Wherewithal thy mind is blest.  
Many a one that oft resorts  
To make up the troup at sports,  
And in company some while  
Happens to strain forth a smile:  
Feels more want, more outward smart  
And more inward grief of heart,  
Then this place can bring to thee,  
While thy mind remaineth free.  
Thou condemn'st my want of mirth,  
But what findest thou in this earth,  
Wherein aught may be believed,  
Worth to make me joyed, or grieved?  
And yet feel I (na●…helesse)  
Part of both I must confess,  
Sometime I of Mirth do borrow,  
Otherwhile as much of sorrow,  
But my present state is such,  
I'm nor Joyed, nor grieved much.   ROGET. 

Why hath WILLY then so long  
Thus forborn●… his wont song?  
Wherefore doth he now let fall,  
His well-tuned Pastoral?  
And my cares that Music bar▪  
Which I more long after far,  
Then the liberty I want.   WILLY. 

That were very much to grant.  
But doth this hold always lad,  
Those that sing not must be sad?  
Didst thou ever that bird hear  
Sing well, that sings all the year?  
Tom the Piper doth not play  
Till he wears his Pipe away:  
There's a time to slack the string,  
And a time to leave to sing.   ROGET. 

Yea, but no man now is still,  
That can sing, or tune a quill.  
Now to chant it, were but reason,  
Song and Music are in season,  
Now ●…n this sweet ●…olly tide,  
Is the earth in all her pride.  
The fair Lady of the May  
Trimmed up in her best array  
Hath invited all the Swains,  
With the Lasses of the Plains  
To attend upon her sport  
At the places of resort.  
Corydon (with his bold Rout)  
Hath already been about  
For the elder shepherds dole,  
And fetched in the Summer-Pole:  
Whilst the rest have built a Bower,  
To defend them from a shower,  
Se●…l'd so close with boughs all green,  
Titan cannot pry between.  
Now the Darrie Wenches dream  
Of their Stra●… berries and Cream:  
And each doth herself advance  
To be taken in, to dance▪  
Every one that knows to sing,  
Fits him for his Carolling:  
So do those that hope for meed,  
Either by the Pipe or Reed,  
And though I am kept away,  
I do hear (this very day)  
Many learned Grooms do wend,  
For the Garlands to contend.  
Which a Nymph that hight Desert,  
(Long a stranger in this part)  
With her own fair hand hath wrought  
A rare work (they say) past thought,  
As appeareth by the name,  
For she calls them Wreaths of fame.  
She hath set in their due place  
Every flower that may grace,  
And among a thousand more,  
Whereof some but serve for show)  
She hath wove in Daphne's tree,  
That they may not blasted be.  
Which with Time she edged about,  
Lest the work should rau●…ll out.  
And that it might wither never,  
Intermixed it with Live-ever.  
These are to be shared among  
Those that do excel for song:  
Or their passions can rehearse,  
In the smoothest and sweetest verse.  
Then for th●…se among the rest,  
That can play and pipe the best▪  
There's a Kidling with the Dam,  
A fat Weathe●…, and a Lamb.  
And for those that leapen far,  
Wrestle, Run, and throw the Bar,  
There's appointed guerdons to,  
He that best the first can do  
Shall for his re●…ard be paid,  
With a Sheephook, fair in-laid  
With fine bone, of a strange beast,  
That men bring from out the west.  
For the next, a Scrip of red,  
Tasseled with fine coloured thread.  
There's prepared for their need,  
That in running make most speed,  
Or the cunning measures foot,  
Cups of turned Maple-roote,  
Whereupon the skilful man  
Hath i●…grau'd the Loxes of Pan:  
And the last hath for his due  
A fine Napkin wrought with blue.  
Then my Willy why art thou  
Careless of thy merit now?  
What dost here with a wight  
That is shut up from delight,  
In a solitary den  
As not fit to live with men?  
Go my Willy get thee gone,  
Leave me in exile alone.  
high thee to that merry throng,  
And amaze them with thy Song,  
Thou art young, yet such a Lay  
Never grated the month of May,  
As (if they provoke thy skill)  
Thou canst fit unto thy Quill.  
I with wonder heard thee sing,  
At our last years reveling.  
Then I with the rest was free,  
When unknown I noted thee:  
And perceived the ruder Swains,  
Envy thy far sweeter strains.  
Yea, I saw the Lasses cling  
Round about thee in a Ring:  
As if each one ●…ealous were,  
Any but herself should hear.  
And I know they yet do long  
For the res'due of thy song.  
Haste thee then to sing it forth,  
Take the benefit of worth.  
And Desert will sure bequeath  
Fame's fair garland for thy wreath.  
high thee Willy, high away.   WILLY. 

Roget rather let me stay,  
And be desolate with thee,  
Then at those their Revels be,  
Nought such is my skill I wis,  
As in deed thou deemest it is.  
But what ere it be, I must  
Be content, and shall I trust.  
For a song I do not pass▪  
'Mongst my friends, but what (alas)  
Should I have to do with them  
That my Music do contemn?  
Some there are, as well I wot,  
That the same yet favour not:  
Yet I cannot well avow,  
They my Car●…ols disallow.  
But such malice I have spid,  
'tis as much as if they did.   ROGET. 

Willy, what may those men be  
Are so ill to malice thee?   WILLY. 

Some are worthy-well esteemed  
Some without worth are so deemed▪  
Others of so base a spirit,  
They have nor esteem, nor merit.   ROGET. 
What's the wrong?  WILLY. 

A slight offence,  
Wherewithal I can dispense;  
But hereafter for their sake,  
To myself I'll music make.   ROGET. 

What, because some Clown offends,  
Wilt thou punish all thy friends?   WILLY. 

Honest Roget understand me,  
Those that love me may command me▪  
But thou knowst I am but young,  
And the Pastoral I sung,  
Is by some supposed to be,  
(By a strain) too high for me:  
So they kindly let me gain,  
Not my labour for my pain.  
Trust me, I do wonder why  
They should me my own deny.  
Though I'm young, I scorn to fli●…,  
On the wings of borrowed wit.  
I'll make my own feathers rear me,  
Whither others cannot bear me.  
Yet I'll keep my skill in store,  
Till I've seen some Winter's mo●….   ROGET. 

But in earnest meanest thou so?  
Then thou art not wise, I trow.  
Better shall advise thee Pan,  
For thou dost not rightly than:  
That's the ready ●…ay to blot  
All the credit thou hast got.  
Rather in thy Ages prime,  
Get another start of Time:  
And make those that so fond be,  
(Spite of their own dullness) see  
That the sacred Muses can  
Make a child in years, a man.  
It is known what thou canst do,  
For it is not long ago,  
When that CUDDIE, Thou, and I  
Fach the others skill to try,  
At Saint Dunstanes charmed Well,  
(As some present there can tell)  
Sang upon a sudden Theme,  
Sitting by the Crimson stream.  
Where, if thou didst well or no,  
Yet remains the song to show.  
Much experience more I've had  
Of thy skill (thou happy Lad)  
And would make the world to know it;  
But that time will further show it:  
Envy makes their tongues now run,  
More than doubt of what is done,  
For that needs must be thy own,  
Or to be some others known:  
But how then wilt suit unto  
What thou shalt hereafter do?  
Or I wonder where is he,  
Would with that song part to thee:  
Nay, were there so mad a Swain,  
Could such glory'sell for gain;  
Phoebus would not have combined,  
That gift with so base a mind.  
Never did the Nine impart  
The sweet secrets of their Art  
Unto any that did scorn  
We should see their savours worn,  
Therefore unto those that say,  
Where they pleased to sing a Lay,  
They could do't, and will not tho;  
This I speak, for this I know:  
None ere drunk the Thespian spring,  
And knew how, but he did sing.  
For that once infused in man,  
Makes him show't, do what he can,  
Nay those that do only sip  
Or but e'en their fingers dip  
In that sacred Fount (poor Elves)  
Of that brood will show themselves;  
Yea, in hope to get them fame,  
They will speak though to their shame,  
Let those then at thee repine,  
That by their wits measure thine,  
Needs those Songs must be thine own,  
And that one day will be known,  
The same imputation to,  
I myself do undergo:  
But it will appear ere long,  
I'm abused, and thou hast wrong,  
Who at twice ten haste sung more,  
Then some will do at fourscore.  
Cheer thee (honest Willy) then,  
And begin thy song again.   WILLY. 

feign I would, but I do fear  
When again my Lines they hear,  
If they yield they are my Rhymes,  
They will feign some other Crimes,  
And 'tis no safe venturing by,  
Where we see Detraction lie.  
For do what I can, I doubt,  
She will pick some quarrel out,  
And I oft have heard defended,  
Little said, and soon amended.   ROGET. 

See'st thou not in clearest days  
Oft thick fogs cloud heavens rays?  
And the vapours that do breath  
From the earth's gross womb ●…e each,  
Seem they not with their black steams,  
To pollute the suns bright beams,  
And yet vanish into air.  
Leaving it (unblemished) fair?  
So (my Willy) shall it be  
With Detractions breath and thee.  
It shall never rise so high,  
As to stain thy Poesy.  
As that Sun doth oft exhale,  
Vapours from each rotten Vale,  
Poesy so sometime drains,  
Gross conceits from muddy brains;  
Mists of Envy, fogs of spite,  
Twixt men's judgements and her light:  
But so much her power may do,  
That she can dissolve them too.  
If thy verse do bravely tower,  
As she makes wing, she gets power.  
Yet the higher she doth sore,  
she's affionted still the more:  
Till she to the highest hath past,  
Then she rests with fame at last.  
Let nought therefore thee affright,  
But make forward in thy flight:  
For if I could match thy Rhyme,  
To the very stars I'd climb.  
There begin again and fly  
Till I reached Eternity.  
But (alas) my Muse is slow:  
For thy pace she flags too low:  
Yes, the more's her hapless fate,  
Her short wings were clipped of late.  
And poor I, her fortune ruing,  
Am myself put up a muing.  
But if I my Cage can rid,  
I'll fly where I never did.  
And though for her sake l'me crossed,  
Though my best hopes I have lost,  
And knew she would make my trouble,  
Ten times more than ten times double:  
I would love and keep her to,  
Spite of all the world could do.  
For though banished from my flocks,  
And confined within these rocks,  
Here I waste away the light,  
And consume the sullen Night,  
She doth for my comfort stay,  
And keeps many cares away.  
Though I miss the flowery Fields,  
With those sweets the Springtide yields,  
Though I may not see those Groves,  
Where the Shepherds chant their Loves,  
And the Lasses more excel,  
Then the sweet-voyced Philomela,  
Though of all those pleasures past,  
Nothing now remains at last,  
But Remembrance (poor relief)  
That more makes, then mends my grief:  
She's my mind's companion still,  
Maugre envies evil will.  
(Whence she should be driven to,  
Were't in mortals power to do.)  
She doth tell me where to borrow  
Comfort in the midst of sorrow;  
Makes the desolatest place  
To her presence be a grace;  
And the blackest discontents  
Be her fairest ornaments.  
In my former days of bliss,  
Her divine skill taught me this,  
That from every thing I saw,  
I could some invention draw:  
And raise pleasure to her height,  
Through the meanest objects fight,  
By the murmur of a spring,  
Or the least boughs rustling.  
By a Daisy whose leaves spread  
Shut when Titan goes to bed,  
Or a shady bush or tree,  
She could more infuse in me,  
Then all Nature's beauties can,  
In some other wiser man.  
By her help I also now,  
Make this churlish place allow  
Somethings, that may sweeten gladness  
In the very gall of sadness.  
The dull loanesse, the black shade,  
That these hanging vaults have made,  
The strange Music of the waves,  
Beating on these hollow Caves.  
This black den which Rocks embosse,  
Overgrown with eldest moss.  
The rude portals that give light,  
More to Terror then Delight.  
This my Chamber of Neglect,  
Walled about with Disrespect,  
From all these, and this dull air,  
A fit object for Despair,  
She hath taught me by her might  
To draw comfort and delight.  
Therefore thou best earthly bliss  
I will cheris●… thee for this.  
Poesy; thou sweetest content  
That ere Heaven to mortals lent.  
Though they as a trifle leave thee  
Whose dull thoughts can not conceive th●…  
Though thou be to them a scorn  
That to nought but earth are borne:  
Let my life no longer be,  
Then I am in love with thee.  
Though our wise ones call it madness,  
Let me never taste of gladness  
If I l●…ue not thy mad'st sits  
Above all their greatest ●… its.  
And though some too seeming holy  
Do account thy raptures folly:  
Thou dost teach me to contemn  
What makes Knaves and Fools of them.  
O high power that oft doth carry  
Men above,   WILLY. 

Good Roget carry  
I do fear thou wilt be gone  
Quite above my reach anon,  
The kind flames of Poesy  
Have now borne thy thoughts so high,  
That they up in Heaven be  
And have quite forgotten me.  
Call thyself to mind again  
Are these Raptures for a Swain,  
That attends on lowly sheep  
And with simple herds doth keep?   ROGET. 

Thank●…s my Willy, I had run  
Till that Time had lodged the Sun,  
If thou hadst not made me stay;  
But thy pardon here I pray.  
Loved Apollo's sacred sire  
Has raised up my spirits higher  
Through the love of Poesy,  
Then indeed they use to fly.  
But as I said, I say still,  
If that I had Will●…'s skill  
Envy nor Detractions tongue,  
Should ere make me leave my song:  
But I'd sing it every day  
Till they pined themselves away.  
Be thou then adui●…'d in this  
Which both ●…ust and fitting is,  
Finish what thou hast begun  
Or at least still forward run:  
〈◊〉 and Thu●…der ill he'll bear  
That a blast of wind doth fear:  
And if w●…rds will thus afray thee,  
Prithee how will deeds dismay thee?  
Do not think so rather a song  
Can pass through the vulgar throng,  
And escape without a touch,  
Or that they can hurt it much:  
Frosts we see d●…e 〈◊〉 that thing  
Which is for●…ard's in the Spring:  
Yet at last for all such lets  
Somewhat of the rest 〈◊〉 gets:  
And I'm sure that so ●…aist thou,  
Therefore my kind Willy now,  
S●…nce thy folding time 〈◊〉 on  
And I see thou mu●…t be gone,  
T●…ee I earnestly b●…seech  
To rememb●…r this m●… s●…ech,  
And some little couns●…ll 〈◊〉,  
For thy poor friend Rogets sake:  
And I more of this will 〈◊〉,  
If th●…u come next Holiday.   
FINIS.   

To Master W. F. of the Middle Temple.  
The fifth Eglogue.  
ARGUMENT.  

ROGET here ALEXIS moves,  
To embrace the Muse's loves;  
▪ Bids him never careful seem,  
Of another's disesteem▪  
Since to them it may suffice,  
That themselves can iustl●… prise.   

ROGET.  
ALEXIS.   

ALEXIS if thy worth do not disdain  
The humble friendship of a meaner 〈◊〉  
Or some more needful business of the day  
Urge th●…e to be too hasty on thy way;  
Come (g●…ntle Shepherd) rest thee here by me,  
Under the shadow of this broad-leaved tree:  
For though I seem a stranger, yet mine eye  
Observes in thee the marks of courtesy:  
And if my judgement err not, noted too  
More then in those that ●…ore would seem ●…o do;  
Such virtues thy rare modesty doth hide  
Which by their proper lustre I ●…spy'd;  
And though long mask'●… in silence they have been  
I have a wisdom through that silence seen:  
Yea, I have learned knowledge from thy tongue,  
And heard when thou hast in concealment sung:  
Which me the bolder and more willing made  
Thus to inuit●… thee to this homely shade.  
And though (it may be) thou couldst neu●…r spy  
Such worth in me, I might be known thereby,  
In thee I do; for here ●… y neighbouring sheep  
Upon the border of these down●… I keep:  
Where often thou at Pastorals and plays,  
Hast graced our Wakes on Summer Holy days:  
And many a ●…ime with thee at this cold spring  
M●…rl, to hear your learned shepherds sing,  
Saa them disporting in the shady grouc●…,  
And in chaste Sonn●…ts ●…ooe their chaster loves:  
When I endued with the meanest skill,  
'mongst others have been urged to tune my quill,  
Where cause but l●…ttle cunning I had got)  
Perhaps thou saw'st me, though thou knewest me not   ALFXIS. 

Yes Roget, I do know thee and thy name,  
Nor is my knowledge grounded all on fame,  
Art not thou he, that but this other year.  
S●…ard'st all the Wolves and Foxes in the shear?  
And in a ma●…ch at Football lately tried  
(Having scarce twenty satires on thy side)  
Helded pla●…: and though assailed, keptest thy stand  
'Gainst all the best-tryed Ruffi●…ns in the land?  
Didst thou not then in dolesull Sonnets moon,  
When the beloved of great Pan was gone;  
And at the wedding of fair THAME & RHINE,  
Sing of their glories to thy Valentine?  
I know it, and I must confess that long  
In one thing I did do thy nature wrong:  
For till I marked the aim thy satires had,  
I thought them overbold and Roge●… mad;  
But since I did mo●…e nearly on thee look  
I soon perceived that I had all mistook;  
I saw that of a Cynic thou mad'st show  
Where since I find that thou wert nothing so,  
And that of many thou much blame hadst got  
When as thy Innocence deserved it not.  
But this too good opinion thou hast seemed  
To have of me (not so to be esteemed)  
Prevails not aught to stay him who doth fear  
He rather should reproofs then praises hear  
'tis true, I found thee plain and honest to,  
Which made me like, then love as now I do.  
And Roget though a stranger this I say  
Where I d●…e love I am not coy to stay.   ROG●…T. 

Thanks gentle S●…aine that dost so soon vn●…olde  
What I to thee a●… gladly wo●…ld have told  
And thus thy wont courtesy expressed  
In 〈◊〉 entertaining this request:  
Sure I should 〈◊〉 my o●…ne content  
Or wrong thy love to stand on complemen●…,  
Who hast acquaintance in one word begun  
As well as I could in an age have done:  
Or by an ou●…rweaning slowness mar●…e  
What thy more wisdom hath brought on so far  
Then sit thou down and Il'●… my mind declare  
As free●…, as if we familiars were:  
And i●… thou wilt but deign ●…o give me ear  
Some●…hing thou mayst f●…r thy more profit hear,   ALEXIS. 
Willingly Roget I thy wish obey.  ROG●…T. 

Then know Alexis from that very day  
When as I saw thee at that shepherds Coat  
Where each I think o●… other took first note,  
I mean that Pastor who by Tavies springs  
chaste Shephear●…s louc●… in sweetest numbers sing●…,  
And with his Music (to his greater fame)  
Hath late made proud the fairest Nimph●… of Thame.  
E'en than me thought I did espy in the●…  
Some unperceived and hidden worth to be,  
Which in thy more apparent virtues shined  
And among many I in thought divined,  
By something my conceit had understood  
That thou wert marked one of the Muse's brood,  
That made me love thee: And that love I bear  
Begat a Pity, and that Pity Care:  
〈◊〉 I had to s●…e good parts concealed,  
Care I had how to have tha●… good r●…ueal'd,  
Since ' 〈◊〉 a f●…u't 〈◊〉 no excuse  
To possess much a●…d yet put nought in vs●…:  
Hereon I vowed (if 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eue●… 〈◊〉  
The first 〈◊〉 that I would 〈◊〉 to g●…t  
Should be but 〈◊〉 is, that ●…hou 〈◊〉 show th●… skill,  
Ho●… thou couldst ●…une thy ve●…ses to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉:  
And teach thy Muse in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 long,  
To she●… the Art th●…u 〈◊〉 suppressed so long:  
Which if my new acquaintance may ob●…aine  
Roget will ever honour this days gain.   〈◊〉. 

Alas! my small experienc●… scarce c●…n tell  
So much as where those 〈◊〉 the Muses dwell,  
Nor (●…hough my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 travels on)  
Shall I ere reach to drink of Helicon;  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so 〈◊〉 be to taste  
What 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ames but oue●…-flow in waste,  
An●… 〈◊〉 Parnassus, wher●… it low'st doth lie,  
I ●…eare my skill would hardly flag so high.   ROGET. 

D spayre not Man, the Gods have 〈◊〉 nought  
So d●…ere that may not be with labour bought,  
Nor need 〈◊〉 pain be great since Fate and Heaven  
That (as a bl●…ssing) at thy 〈◊〉 have given.   ALEXIS. 
Why say they had?  RO●…ET. 

Then use their gifts thou must,  
Or be ungrateful, and so be unjust:  
F●…r if it cannot tru●…y be denied,  
Ingrati●…ude men's benefits do hide;  
Than more vng●…atefull must he be by odds  
Who doth conceal the bounty o●… the G●…ds.   ROGET. 

That's true indeed, but Envy haunteth those  
Who seeking fame their hidden skill disclose:  
Where else they might (obscured) from her espying,  
Escape the blasts and danger of envying:  
Critics will censure our best strains of Wit,  
And pu●…blinde Ignorance misconstrue it.  
All which i●… bad, yet worse than this doth follow,  
Most hate the Muses, and contemn Apollo.   ALEXIS. 

So let them: why should we their hate esteem?  
Is't not enough we of ourselves can deem?  
'tis more to their disgrace that we scorn them  
Then unto us that they our Art contemn;  
Can we have better pastime then to see  
Their gross heads may so much deceived be,  
As to allow those d●…ings best where wholly  
We 〈◊〉 them to their face, and flout their folly:  
Or to behold black Envy in her prim●…,  
Die selfe-consumed whilst we vie lives with time:  
And in despite of her, more fame attain  
Th●…n all her malice can wipe out again?   ROGET. 

Yea but if I applied me to those strains,  
Wh●… should drive forth my flocks unto the plains.  
Which whilst the Muse's rest, and leisure crave,  
Must ●…atering, folding, and attendance have.  
For if I leave with wont care to cherish  
Those tender herds: both I and they should perish   AL●…XIS. 

Alexis now I see thou dost mistake,  
There is no meaning thou thy charge forsake;  
Nor would I wish thee so thyself abuse  
As to neglect thy calling for thy Muse:  
But let these two so of each other borrow,  
That they may scason mirth, and lessen sorrow.  
Thy flock will help thy charges to defray,  
Thy muse to pass the long and tedious day.  
Or whilst thou ●…un'st sweet measures to thy Reed  
Thy sheep to listen will more near thee feed,  
The wolves will shun them, birds above thee sing,  
And Lambkin's dance about thee in a Ring;  
Nay which is more: in this thy low estate  
Thou in contentment shalt with monarch mate:  
For mighty Pan, and Ceres to us grants  
Our fields and flocks shall help our outward wants.  
The Muses teach us songs to put off cares,  
Graced with as rare and sweet conceits as theirs:  
And we can think our Lasses on the greene's  
As fair, or fairer, than the fairest Queens;  
Or what is more than most of them shall do,  
we'll make their juster same's last ionger to,  
Having our Lines by greatest Princes graced  
When both their name and memory's defaced.  
Therefore Alexis though that some disdain  
The heavenly music of the Rural plain,  
What is't to us, if they (o'er seen) contemn  
The dainties which were near ordained for them?  
And though that there be other some envy  
The praises due to sacred Poesy,  
Let them disdain and fret till they are weary,  
We in ourselves have that shall make us merry:  
Which he that wants, and had the power to know it,  
Would give his life that he might die a Poet.   ALEXIS. 
A brave persuasion.  ROGET. 

Here thou see'st me penned  
Within the jaws of strict imprisonment;  
A forlorn Shepherd, void of all the means,  
Whereon Man's common hope in danger leans:  
Weak in myself. Exposed to the Hate  
Of those whose Envies are ins●…tiate:  
Shut from my Friends, banished from all delights,  
Nay worse; excluded from the sacred Rites.  
Here I do live ('mongst outlaws marked for death)  
As one unfit to draw the common breath,  
Where those who to be good did never know  
Are barred from the means should make them so.  
I suffer, cause I wished my Country well,  
And what I more must bear I cannot tell.  
I'm sure they give my body little scope,  
And would allow my Mind as little Hope,  
I wast my Means, which of itself is slender,  
Consume my Time (perhaps my Fortunes hinder)  
And many Crosses have, which those that can  
Conceive no wrong that hurts another man  
Will not take note of, though if half so much  
Should light on them, or their own person touch,  
Some that themselves (I fear) most worthy think  
With all their helps would into baseness shrink,  
But spite of Hate, and all that spite can do,  
I ●…an be patient yet, and merry to;  
That s●…nder Muse of mine, by which my Name,  
Though scarce deserved hath gained a little fame,  
Hath made me unto such a Fortune borne,  
That all misfortunes I know how to scorn;  
Yea, midst these bands can slight the Greatest that be  
As much as their disdain misteemes of me.  
This Cave whose very presence some affrights  
I have oft made to Echo forth delights,  
And hope to turn, is any justice be,  
Both Shame and Care on those that wished it me:  
For while the world rank villainies affords.  
I will not spare to paint them out in words;  
Because I thus into these troubles run,  
I knew what man could act, ere I begun;  
And I'll fulfil what my Muse draws me to,  
Maugre all jails, and Purgatories to.  
For while▪ st she 〈◊〉 me honest 〈◊〉 about▪  
〈◊〉 or she I know will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ut:  
And if by Fate 〈◊〉 power of some,  
Must in the world's eve leave me overcome.  
They shall find one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…o 〈◊〉 I ●…ow,  
It cannot ●…eele a 〈◊〉 overthrow.  
This Hope and trust that great power did in●…use,  
That first inspired into my breast ●… 〈◊〉,  
By whom I do, and ever will con●…  
All these ill h●…, my foe's desp●…, and them.   ALEXIS. 

Thou hast so well (young Roget) plaud thy part  
I am almost in love with that sweet Art:  
And if some power will but 〈◊〉 my song▪  
Alexis will not be obscured long.   ROGET. 

Enough kind Pastor: But oh▪ yonder see  
Two honest Shepherds walking h●…ther be,  
C●…ty and Willy, that so dearly love,  
Who are repairing unto yonder Grove:  
Let's follow them▪ for never braver Swains  
Made music to their f●…ockes upon these plains.  
They are more worthy, and can better tell  
What ●…are contents do with a Poet dwell.  
Then whiles our sheep the short sweet grass do shear,  
And till the long shade of the hills appear▪  
Wee'l●… hear them sing: for though the one be young,  
Never was any that more sweetly sung.   
FINIS.   

A Postscript To the READERS.  
IF you have read this, and received any content, I am glad (though it be not so much as I could wish you,) if you think it idle, why then I see we are not likely to fall out; for I am just of your minds: yet weigh it well before you run too far in your censures, lest this prove less barren of wit than you of courtesy. It is very true (I know not by what chance) that I have of late been so highly beholding to Opinion, that I wonder how I crept so much into her favour, and (if I did think it worthy the fearing,) I should be afraid that she having so undeservedly befriended me beyond my Hope or expectation, will, upon as little cause, ere long, again pick some quarrel against me: and it may be, means to make use of this, which I know must needs come far short of their expectation, who by their earnest desire of it seemed to be forepossest with a far better conceit than I can believe it proves worthy of. So much at least I doubted, and therefore loath to deceive the world (though it often beguile me) I kept it to myself, indeed not dreaming ever to see it published: But now, by the overmuch persuasion of some friends, I have been constrained to expose it to the general view. Which seeing I have done, Somethings I desire thee to take notice of. First, that I am He who to pleasure my friend, have framed myself a content out of that which would otherwise discontent me. Secondly, that I have coveted more to effect what I think truly honest in itself, then by a seeming show of Art, to catch the vain blasts of uncertain Opinion. This that I have here written, was no part of my study, but only a recreation in imprisonment: and a trifle, neither in my conceit fitting, not by me intended to be made common; yet some, and it should seem esteeming it worthy more respect than I did, took pains to copy it out, unknown to me, and in my absence got it both Authorized and prepared for the Press; so that if I had not hindered it, last Michaelmas-Tearme had been troubled with it. I was much blamed by some Friends for withstanding it, to whose request I should more easily have consented, but that I thought (as indeed I yet do) I should thereby more disparaged myself, then content them. For I doubt I shall be supposed one of those, who out of their arrogant desire of a little preposterous Fame, thrust into the world every unseasoned trifle that drops out of their unsettled brains; whose baseness how much I hate, those that know me can witness, for if I were so affected, I might perhaps present the world with as many several Poems as I have seen years; and justly make myself appear to be the Author of some things that others have shamefully usurped and made use of as their own. But I will be content other men should own some of those Issues of the Brain, for I would be loath to confess all that might in that kind call me Father. Neither shall any more of them, by my consent, in haste again trouble the world, unless I know which way to benefit it with less prejudice to my own estate. And therefore if any of those less serious Poems which are already dispersed into my friends hands, come amongst you, let not their publication be imputed to me, nor their lightness be any disparagement to what hath been since more seriously written, seeing it is but such stuff as riper judgements have in their far older years been much more guilty of.  
I know an▪ indifferent Critic may find many faults as well in the sleightness of this present Subject, as in the erring from the true nature of an Eglogue: moreover, it altogether concerns myself, which divers may dislike. But neither can be done on just cause: The first hath been answered already: the last might consider that I was there where my own estate was chiefly to be looked unto, and all the comfort I could minister unto myself little enough.  
If any man deem it worthy his reading, I shall be glad: if he think his pains ill bestowed, let him blame himself for meddling with that concerned him not; I neither recommended it to him, neither cared whether he read it or no, because I know those that were desirous of it, will esteem the same as much as I expect they should.  
But it is not unlikely, some will think I have in divers places been more wanton (as they take it) then befitteth a Satirist; yet their severity I fear not, because I am assured all that I ever yet did, was free from Obseaevitie: neither am I so Cynical, but that I think a modest expression of such amorous conceits as sure with Reason, will yet very well become my years; in which not to have feeling of the power of Love, were as great an argument of much stupidity, as an over-sottish affection were of extreme folly. Lastly, if you think it hath not well answered the title of the Shepherds Hunting, go quarrel with the Stationer, who bid himself Godfather, and imposed the name according to his own liking, and if you, or he, find any other faults, pray mend them.  
valet.  
FINIS.