A Beucolick, or discourse of Neatherds.
1
COme blithefull Neatherds, let us lay
A wager, who the best shall play,
Of thee, or I, the Roundelay,
That fits the businesse of thé Day.
Chor.
And Lallage the Judge shall be,
To give the prize to thee, or me.
2
Content, begin, and I will bet
A Heifer smooth, and black as jet,
In every part alike compleat,
And wanton as a Kid as yet.
Chor.
And Lallage (with cow-like eyes)
Shall be Disposeresse of the prize.
1
Against thy Heifer, I will here
Lay to thy stake a lustie Steere,
With gilded hornes, and burnisht cleere.
Chor.
Why then begin, and let us heare
The soft, the sweet, the mellow note
That gently purles from eithers Oat.
2
The stakes are laid: let's now apply
Each one to make his melody:
Lal.
The equall Umpire shall be I,
Who'l hear, and so judge righteously.