Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

::^3« XXVIII. EDMUND SPENSER.The mornefull Muse in myrth now list ne maske,As shee was wont in youngth and sommer dayes. 20But if thou algate lust light virelayesAnd looser songs of loue to vnderfong,Wlio but thy-selfe deserues sike Poetes prayse ?Relieue thy Oaten pypes, that sleepen long.Thenof.The Nightingale is souereigne of song, 25Before him sits the Titmose silent bee :And I, vnfitte to thrust in skilfull thronge,Should Colin make iudge of my fooleree ?Nay, better learne of hem, that learned bee,And han be watered at the INIuses well30The kindlye dewe drops from the higher tree,And wets the little plants that lowly dwell.But if sadde winters wrathe, and season chill,Accorde not with thy Muses meriment.To sadder times thou mayst attune thy quill, 35And sing of sorrowe and deathes dreeriment.For deade isDido, dead, alas, and drent,Dido, the greate shepehearde his daughter sheene :The fayrest May she was that euer went.Her like shee has not left behinde, I weene. 40And if thou wilt bewayle my wofull tene,I shall thee giue yond Cosset for thy payne :And if thy rymes as rownd and rufull bene,As those that did thy Rosalind complayne,Much greater gyfts for guerdon thou shalt gayne 45Then Kidde or Cosset, which I thee bynemptThen vp, I say, thou iolly shepeheard swayne,Let not my small demaund be so contempt.