From my blind bondage, my poore selfe to raise
Ne meanes haue had to know the clemency
Of such, so bounteous Gods; heere, first mine Eye
That young Prince Paragon, (good Melibe)
(To whom twelue dayes, each year, mine Altars smoke) did see.
Hee, (first v••ask'd) did my Petition grant,
And thus himselfe, did answer my request:
Feede (Ladd) thine Oxen, (as woont, paravant)
And to the yoake, breake the Bulls stubborne crest.
Melibe. Happy old man, and fortunately blest
Vnder so mighty Patronage; for-thy,
Thy fields, henceforth to thee, in safety shall abye.
And spacious, they shall be, and large enough
Albe each pasture, fenced be around,
Mounded with stone, and rushie slimy stuffe:
Ne shall vnwoonted feede in Neighbours ground,
Tempt thy bigg-bellied Crones, out of their bound:
Ne shall the murrin, or ought like disease
(Amongst thy Neighbours Cattle) on thy Cattle seize.
"Happy old Man, and more than fairely blest,
"Who 'mongst these well knowne streames, and sacred springs,
"Maist suck the sweete, coole ayre, into thy breast:
"Heere, from the hedge, of thy next Neighbourlings,
The buzzing Bees, confused murmurings
(About the sallow bloomes) shall oft inuade
Thy lulled sense, and to sweete slumber thee perswade.
Heere, maist thou heare, vnder these hollow Rockes
Vnto the ayre, the Lopper, lowdly chant,
And sing wilde descant, to his Axes knockes.
Here, the hoarse stockdove (thy delight) will haunt;
Ne, shall the mourning Turtle, cease to pant