Englands Helicon. Or The Muses harmony.

¶The Shepheard Firmius his Song.

SHepheards giue eare, and now be still, Vnto my passions, and their cause, and what they be: Since that with such an earnest will, And such great signes of friendships lawes, you aske it me.

It is not long since I was whole, Nor since I did in euery part free-will resigne: It is not long since in my sole Possession, I did know my hart, and to be mine.

It is not long, since euen and morrow, All pleasure that my heart could finde, was in my power:

It is not long, since griefe and sorrow, My louing heart began to binde, and to deuoure.

It is not long, since companie I did esteeme a ioy indeede still to frequent: Nor long, since solitarilie I liu'd, and that this life did breede my sole content.

Desirous I (wretched) to see, But thinking not to see so much as then I saw: Loue made me know in what degree, His valour and braue force did touch me with his law.

First he did put no more nor lesse Into my heart, then he did view that there did want: But when my breast in such excesse Of liuely flames to burne I knew, then were so scant.

My ioyes, that now did so abate, (My selfe estranged euery way from former rest:) That I did know, that my estate, And that my life was euery day, in Deaths arrest.

I put my hand into my side, To see what was the cause of this vnwonted vaine: Where I did finde, that torments hied By endlesse death to preiudice my life with paine.

Because I saw that there did want My heart, wherein I did delight, my dearest hart: And he that did the same supplant, No iurisdiction had of right to play that part.

The Iudge and Robber, that remaine Within my soule, their cause to trie, are there all one: And so the giuer of the paine, And he that is condemn'd to die or I, or none.

To die I care not any way, Though without why, to die I greeue, as I doe see: But for because I heard her say, None die for loue, for I beleeue none such there be.

Then this thou shalt beleeue by me Too late, and without remedie as did in briefe: Anaxerete, and thou shalt see,

The little she did satisfie with after griefe.

FINIS.

Bar. Yong.