'Disdainful dame, how didst thou dare, So reckless to depart the ground That is allotted to thy share?' And therewithal his godhead frown'd. 'I will,' quoth Nature, out of hand, Declare the cause I fled the land. I undertook of late a piece Of clay a featured face to frame, 'Vicegerent, since you me assign'd Below in earth, and gave me laws Of right, I think, I may appeal, And crave your help in this to deal.' When Jove saw how the case did stand, And that the work was well begun, He pray'd to have the helping hand Of other gods till he had done: With willing minds they all agreed, And set upon the clay with speed. First Jove each limb did well dispose, Her gallant gifts as best she may; 1 When Venus had done what she could In making of her carcase brave, Of Bacchus she no member had, That gods had thought it gold to be: Diana held her peace a space, Until those other gods had done; At last,' quoth she, in Dian's chase With bow in hand this nymph shall run; And chief of all my noble train I will this virgin entertain.' Then joyful Juno came and said, 'Since you to her so friendly are, I do appoint this noble maid for war; To match with Mars his peer When to so good effect it came, And every member had his grace, There wanted nothing but a name : By hap was Mercury then in place, That said, I pray you all agree, Pandora grant her name to be. 1 Feat:' neat. 'For since your godheads forged have This term agreeth to the same.' Report was summon'd then in haste, That might be heard through Brutus' land. O seely1 Nature, born to pain, O woful, wretched kind (I say), To make this Countess out of clay: In reference to the Miscellaneous Pieces which close this period, we need only say that the best of them is 'The Soul's Errand,' and that its authorship is uncertain. It has, with very little evidence in any of the cases, been ascribed to Sir Walter Raleigh, to Francis Davison, (author of a compilation entitled 'A Poetical Rhapsody,' published in 1593, and where 'The Soul's Errand' first appeared,) and to Joshua Sylvester, who prints it in his volume of verses, with vile interpolations of his own. Its outspoken energy and pithy language render it worthy of any of our poets. 1 'Seely:' simple. HARPALUS' COMPLAINT OF PHILLIDA'S LOVE BESTOWED ON CORIN, WHO LOVED HER NOT, AND DENIED HIM THAT LOVED HER. 1 Phillida was a fair maid, As fresh as any flower; Whom Harpalus the herdman pray'd To be his paramour. 2 Harpalus, and eke Corin, Were herdmen both yfere:1 3 But Phillida was all too coy 4 How often would she flowers twine, 5 But Corin he had hawks to lure, 6 Harpalus prevailed nought, His labour all was lost; For he was furthest from her thought, 7 Therefore was he both pale and lean, His flesh it was consumed clean; 8 His beard it not long be shave; 9 His eyes were red, and all forwacht; 2 It seem'd unhap had him long hatcht, 10 His clothes were black, and also bare; 11 His beasts he kept upon the hill, And thus with sighs and sorrows shrill 12 'O Harpalus!' thus would he say; The cause of thine unhappy day 13 For thou went'st first by suit to seek VOL. I. That sets not by thy love a leek, 1 'Shent:' spoiled.-2 Forwacht:' from much watching. I 129 |