If country loves such sweet desires do gain,
What lady would not love a shepherd swain?

Thus with his wife he spends the year, as blithe
As doth the king at every tide or sithe ; *
And blither too,

For kings have wars and broils to take in hand,
Where shepherds laugh and love upon the land:
Ah then, ah then,

If

country loves such sweet desires do gain, What lady would not love a shepherd swain?

A Mind Content

Sweet are the thoughts that savour of content;
The quiet mind is richer than a crown;
Sweet are the nights in careless slumber spent ;

The poor estate scorns fortune's angry frown:
Such sweet content, such minds, such sleep, such bliss,
Beggars enjoy, when princes oft do miss.

The homely house that harbours quiet rest;
The cottage that affords no pride nor care;
The mean that 'grees with country music best;
The sweet consort of mirth and music's fare;
Obscured life sets down a type of bliss ;
A mind content both crown and kingdom is.

From "The Farewell to Folly."

* time.

Kobert Devereur, Earl of Esser

(1567-1601)

Happy were he could finish forth his fate

Happy were he could finish forth his fate

In some unhaunted desert, most obscure From all society, from love and hate

Of worldly folk, there might he sleep secure ; There wake again, and give God ever praise, Content with hips and haws and brambleberry, In contemplation passing still his days,

And change of holy thoughts to make him merry. That when he dies, his tomb might be a bush, Where harmless robin dwells with gentle thrush.

From "Certain Verses."

Henry Constable

To his Flocks

Feed on, my flocks, securely,
Your shepherd watcheth surely;

Run about, my little lambs,

Skip and wanton with your dams,

Your loving herd with care will tend ye.

Sport on, fair flocks, at pleasure,

Nip Vesta's flow'ring treasure;

Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex

From the engraving by Jacob Houbraken

after the painting by Isaac Oliver

I myself will duly hark,

When my watchful dog doth bark;

From wolf and fox I will defend ye.

From "England's Helicon."

Michael Drapton

(1563-1631)

The Description of Elizium

A Paradise on earth is found,

Though far from vulgar sight,

Which with those pleasures doth abound

That is Elizium hight.

There in delights that never fade

The Muses lullèd be,

And sit at pleasure in the shade

Of many a stately tree,

Which no rough tempest makes to reel

Nor their straight bodies bows;
Their lofty tops do never feel
The weight of winter's snows.

In groves that evermore are green
No falling leaf is there,