ÆGLOGA QUARTA.

The Argument.

THE design of this Aeglogue is to introduce a panegyrick, in the pastoral kind, on Queen Elizabeth: it begins with a complaint of Hobbinol (a shepherd mention'd in the first Aeglogue) for Colin's neglect of his friendship for the sake of Rosalind, with whom he was fallen in love; and from the mentioning of Colin's skill in poetry, Hobbinol takes occasion to recite one of his songs or poems on Eliza, queen of shepherds.

THENOT. HOBBINOL.

THE.

TELL me, good Hobbinol, what gars thee greet?
What! hath some wolf thy tender lambs ytorn?
Or is thy bag-pipe broke, that sounds so sweet?
Or art thou of thy loved lass forlorn?
Or been thine eyes attempred to the year,
Quenching the gasping furrows thirst with rain?
Like April shower so stream the trickling tears
Adown thy cheek, to quench thy thirsty pain.

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HOB. Nor this nor that so much doth make me

mourn,

But for the lad whom long I lov'd so dearn
Now loves a lass that all his love doth scorn:
He, plung'd in vain, his tressed locks doth tear,
Shepherds delights he doth them all forswear;
His pleasant pipe, which makes us merriment,
He wilfully hath broke, and doth forbear
His wonted songs wherein he all out-went.
THE. What is he for a lad you so lament?

ΤΟ

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Is love such pinching pain to them that prove?
And hath he skill to make so excellent,

Yet hath so little skill to bridle love?

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HOB. Colin, thou kenst the southern shepherd's
boy;

Him Love hath wounded with a deadly dart:
Whylom on him was all my care and joy,
Forcing with gifts to win his wanton heart.
But now from me his madding mind is start,
And wooes the widdow's daughter of the glenne;
So now fair Rosalind hath bred his smart;
So now his friend is changed for a frenne.
THE. But if his ditties be so trimly dight,
I pray thee, Hobbinol, record some one,
The whiles our flocks do graze about in sight,
And we close shrouded in this shade alone.

HOB. Contented I: then will I sing his lay
Of fair Eliza, queen of shepherds all,
Which once he made as by a spring he lay,
And tuned it unto the water's fall.

"Ye dainty Nymphs, that in this blessed brook Do bathe your brest,

"Forsake your watry bowers, and hither look "At my request.

"And eke you Virgins that on Parnasse dwell,

"Whence floweth Helicon, the learned well, "Help me to blaze

"Her worthy praise,

"Which in her sex doth all excel.

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"Of fair Eliza be your silver song,

"That blessed wight,

"The flower of virgins; may she flourish long "In princely plight;

"For she is Syrinx' daughter without spot, "Which Pan, the shepherds" god, of her begot: her grace

"So sprung

"Of heavenly race,

"No mortal blemish may her blot.

"See where she sits upon the grassy green,

(O seemly sight!)

"Yclad in scarlet, like a mayden queen,

"And ermines white:

"Upon her head a cremosin coronet,

"With damask roses and daffadillies set;

"Bay-leaves between,

"And primroses green,

"Embellish the sweet violet.

"Tell me, have ye seen her angelike face, "Like Phoebe fair?

"Her heavenly haviour, her princely grace,
"Can you well compare?

"The red rose medled with the white yfere,
"In either cheek depeinten lively chear;
"Her modest eye,

"Her majesty,

"Where have you seen the like but there?

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“ I saw Phœbus thrust out his golden head,

"Upon her to gaze;

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"But when he saw how broad her beames did

"It did him amaze.

"He blusht to see another sun below,

[spread,

"Ne durst again his fiery face out-show.

"Let him if he dare,

"His brightness compare

"With her's, to have the overthrow.

"Shew thyself, Cynthia, with thy silver rays, "And be not abasht:

"When she the beames of her beauty displays, "O how art thou dasht?

"But I will not match her with Latona's seed; "Such folly great sorrow to Niobe did breed. "Now she is a stone,

"And makes daily mone,

"Warning all other to take heed.

"Pan may be proud that ever he begot "Such a bellibone,

"And Syrinx rejoice, that ever was her lot "To bear such an one.

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"Soon as my younglings crying for the dam,

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"To her will I offer a milk-white lamb:

"And I her shepherd's swain,

"She is my goddess plain,

"Albe forswonk and forswat I am.

"I see Calliope speed her to the place

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"Where my goddess shines,

"And after her the other Muses trace

"With their violines.

"Been they not bay-branches which they do bear,

"All for Eliza in her hand to wear?

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"Lo, how finely the Graces can it foot "To the instrument:

“They dauncen deffly, and singen soote

"In their merriment.

"Wants not a fourth Grace to make the dance even?

"Let that room to my Lady be yeven.

"She shall be a Grace

"To fill the fourth place.

"And reign with the rest in heaven.

"And whither renns this bevy of ladies bright,

" Ranged in a row ?

“They, been all Ladies of the Lake behight "That unto her go.

"Cloris, that is the chiefest nymph of all,

"Of olive branches bears a coronall:

"Olives been for peace,

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"When wars do surcease:

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"Such for a princess been principal.