The Poetical Works of - OUDL Home

464
THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER
December.
AEg/oga Duodecima.
ARGVMENT
Als of their maisters hast no lesse regarde,
Hts Æglogue (euen as the first beganne) Then of the flocks, which thou doest watch
is ended with a complaynte of Colin to God and ward
Pan Wherein as weary of his former wayes, he I thee beseche (so be thou deigne to heare,
proporttioneth his life to the fowe seasons of the Rude ditties tund to shepheards Oaten reede,
yeare, comparing hys youthe to the spring time, Or if l euer sonet song so cleare,
when he was fresh and free from loues follye As it with pleasaunce mought thy fancie feede)
His manhoode to the sommer, which he saythf was Hearken awhile from thy greene cabinet,
consumed with greate heate and excessiue drouth The rurall song of carefull Colinet
caused through a Comet or blasinge starre, by Whilomeinyouth,whenflowrdmyioyfullspnng,
which hee meaneth louet which passion is comenly Like Swallow swift I wandred here and there
compared to such flames and immoderate heate For heate of heedltsse lust me so did sting, 21
His riper yeares hee resembleth to an vnseasonable That I of doubted daunger had no feare
harueste wherein the fruttes fall ere they be rype I went the wastefull woodes and forest wyde
His latter age to winters ckyll and frostie season, With out en dreade of Wolues to bene espyed
now drawing neare to his last ende
T
I wont to raunge amydde the mazie thickette,
He gentle shepheard satte beside a springe, And gather nuttes to make me Christmas game
AH in the shadowe of a bushye brere, And loycd oft to chace the trembling Pricket,
That Colin night, which wel could pype and Or hunt the hartlesse hare, til shee were tame
singe,
What wreaked I of wintrye ages waste,
For he of Tityrus his songs did lere,
Tho deemed I, my spring would euer laste
There as he satte in secreate shade alone, How often haue I scaled the craggie Oke, 31
Thus gan he make of loue his piteous mone All to dislodge the Rauen of her neste
soueraigne Pan thou God of shepheards all, Howe haue I wearied with many a stroke
Which of our tender Lambkins takest keepe The stately Walnut tree, the while the rest
And when our flocks in tomischaunce moughtfall, Vnder the tree fell all for nuts at strife:
Doest saue from mischiefe the vnwary sheepe For ylike to me was libertee and lyfe