The Shepherd's Pipe

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrep

(1516-1547)

Description of Spring, wherein each thing renews, save only the Lover

The sweet season, that bud and bloom forth brings,
With green hath clad the hill and eke the vale:
The nightingale with feathers new she sings:
The turtle to her mate hath told her tale :
Summer is come, for every spray now springs,
The hart hath hung his old head on the pale:
The buck in brake his winter coat he flings:
The fishes float with new repairèd scale :
The adder all her slough away she slings:
The swift swallow persueth the flies small:
The busy bee her honey now she mings:
Winter is worn that was the flowers' bale:
And thus I see among these pleasant things
Each care decays, and yet my sorrow springs.

The Means to attain Happy Life

Martial, the things that do attain
The happy life, be these, I find.
The riches left, not got with pain;
The fruitful ground; the quiet mind;
The equal friend, no grudge, no strife;
No charge of rule, nor gouvernance;
Without disease the healthful life;
The household of continuance ;
The mean diet, no delicate fare;
True wisdom joined with simpleness;
The night discharged of all care,
Where wine the wit may not oppress;

The faithful wife, without debate ;
Such sleep as may beguile the night;
Contented with thine own estate,
Nor wish for Death, nor fear his might.

Nicholas Grimald

(1519-1562)

The Garden

The issue of great Jove, draw near you, Muses nine : Help us to praise the blissful plot of garden ground so

fine.

The garden gives good food, and aid for leach's cure: The garden, full of great delight, his master doth allure. Sweet sallet herbs be here, and herbs of every kind: The ruddy grapes, the seemly fruits, be here at hand. to find.

;

Here pleasans wanteth not, to make a man full fain
Here marvellous the mixture is of solace and of gain.
To water sundry seeds, the sorow by the way
A running river, trilling down with liquor, can con-

vey.

Behold, with lively hue, fair flowers that shine so

bright:

With riches, like the Orient gems, they paint the mould in sight.

Bees, humming with soft sound, (their murmur is so

small)

Of blooms and blossoms suck the tops, on dewèd leaves they fall.

The creeping vine holds down her own be-wedded

elms;

And, wandering out with branches thick, reeds folded overwhelms.

Trees spread their coverts wide, with shadows fresh

and gay;

Full well their branchèd boughs defend the fervent sun

away.

Birds chatter, and some chirp, and some sweet tunes do yield;

All mirthful, with their songs so blithe, they make both air and field.

The garden, it allures, it feeds, it glads the sprite; From heavy hearts all doleful dumps the garden chaseth

quite.

Strength it restores to limbs, draws and fulfils the

sight;

With cheer revives the senses all, and maketh labour

light.

O, what delights to us the garden ground doth bring? Seed, leaf, flower, fruit, herb, bee, and tree, and more than I may sing.

From "Tottel's Miscellany."

Nicholas Breton

(1545-1626)

Worldly Paradise

Who can live in heart so glad
As the merry country lad?
Who upon a fair green balk
May at pleasure sit and walk,
And amid the azure skies,

See the morning sun arise;
While he hears in every spring,
How the birds do chirp and sing:
Or, before the hounds in cry,
See the hare go stealing by:
Or, along the shallow brook,
Angling with a baited hook,
See the fishes leap and play
In a blessed sunny day:
Or to hear the partridge call
Till she have her covey all:
Or to see the subtle fox,
How the villain plies the box;
After feeding on his prey,
How he closely sneaks away,
Through the hedge and down the furrow

Till he gets into his burrow:
Then the bee to gather honey,
And the little black-haired coney,
On a bank for sunny space
With her forefeet wash her face:
Are not these, with thousands moe
Than the courts of kings do know,
The true pleasing spirits sights,
That may breed true love's delights?

From "The Passionate Shepherd."