Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/187
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THE HERDSMAN'S HAPPY SONG.
169
The fleecy flocks do scud and skip,
The wood-nymphs, fauns, and satyrs trip,
And dance the myrtle trees between,
To glad our lovely summer queen.
1600.
The wood-nymphs, fauns, and satyrs trip,
And dance the myrtle trees between,
To glad our lovely summer queen.
1600.
The Herdsman's Happy Life.
What pleasures have great Princes
More dainty to their choice,
Than herdsmen wild—who careless
In quiet life rejoice?
And fortune's fate not scorning,
Sing sweet in summer morning.
More dainty to their choice,
Than herdsmen wild—who careless
In quiet life rejoice?
And fortune's fate not scorning,
Sing sweet in summer morning.
Their dealings plain and rightful
Are void of all deceit,
They never know how spiteful
It is to kneel and wait,
On favourite presumptuous,
Whose pride is vain and sumptuous.
Are void of all deceit,
They never know how spiteful
It is to kneel and wait,
On favourite presumptuous,
Whose pride is vain and sumptuous.
All day their flocks each tendeth,
At night they take their rest,
More quiet than he who sendeth
His ship into the East,
Where gold and pearl are plenty,
But getting very dainty.
At night they take their rest,
More quiet than he who sendeth
His ship into the East,
Where gold and pearl are plenty,
But getting very dainty.
For lawyers and their pleading
They esteem it not a straw;
They think that honest meaning
Is of itself a law;
Where conscience judgeth plainly
They spend no money vainly.
They esteem it not a straw;
They think that honest meaning
Is of itself a law;
Where conscience judgeth plainly
They spend no money vainly.
Oh! happy who thus liveth,
Not caring much for gold,
With clothing which sufficeth
To keep him from the cold;
Though poor and plain his diet,
Yet merry it is and quiet.
Not caring much for gold,
With clothing which sufficeth
To keep him from the cold;
Though poor and plain his diet,
Yet merry it is and quiet.