Damon the Mower

I Heark how the Mower Damon Sung, With love of Juliana stung! While ev'ry thing did seem to paint The Scene more fit for his complaint. Like her fair Eyes the day was fair; But scorching like his am'rous Care. Sharp like his Sythe his Sorrow was, And wither'd like his Hopes the Grass.

II Oh what unusual Heats are here, Which thus our Sun-burn'd Meadows sear! The Grass-hopper its pipe gives ore; And hamstring'd Frogs can dance no more. But in the brook the green Frog wades; And Grass-hoppers seek out the shades. Only the Snake, that kept within, Now glitters in its second skin.

III This heat the Sun could never raise, Nor Dog-star so inflame's the dayes. It from an higher Beauty grow'th, Which burns the Fields and Mower both: Which made the Dog, and makes the Sun Hotter then his own Phaeton. Not July causeth these Extremes, But Juliana's scorching beams.

IV Tell me where I may pass the Fires Of the hot day, or hot desires. To what cool Cave shall I descend, Or to what gelid Fountain bend? Alas! I look for Ease in vain, When Remedies themselves complain. No moisture but my Tears do rest, Nor Cold but in her Icy Breast.

V How long wilt Thou, fair Shepheardess, Esteem me, and my Presents less? To Thee the harmless Snake I bring, Disarmed of its teeth and sting. To Thee Chameleons changing-hue, And Oak leaves tipt with hony-dew. Yet Thou ungrateful hast not sought Nor what they are, nor who them brought.

VI I am the Mower Damon, known Through all the Meadows I have mown. On me the Morn her dew distills Before her darling Daffadils. And, if at Noon my toil me heat, The Sun himself licks off my Sweat. While, going home, the Ev'ning sweet In cowslip-water bathes my feet.

VII What, though the piping Shepherd stock The plains with an unnumber'd Flock, This Sithe of mine discovers wide More ground than all his Sheep do hide. With this the golden fleece I shear Of all these Closes ev'ry Year. And though in Wooll more poor than they, Yet am I richer far in Hay.

VIII Nor am I so deform'd to sight, If in my Sithe I looked right; In which I see my Picture done, As in a crescent Moon the Sun. The deathless Fairyes take me oft To lead them in their Danses soft: And, when I tune my self to sing, About me they contract their Ring.

IX How happy might I still have mow'd, Had not Love here his Thistles sow'd! But now I all the day complain, Joyning my Labour to my Pain; And with my Sythe cut down the Grass, Yet still my Grief is where it was: But, when the Iron blunter grows, Sighing I whet my Sythe and Woes.

X While thus he threw his Elbow round, Depopulating all the Ground, And, with his whistling Sythe, does cut Each stroke between the Earth and Root, The edged Stele by careless chance Did into his own Ankle glance; And there among the Grass fell down, By his own Sythe, the Mower mown.

XI Alas! said He, these hurts are slight To those that dye by Loves despight. With Shepherds-purse, and Clowns-all-heal, The Blood I stanch, and Wound I seal. Only for him no Cure is found, Whom Julianas Eyes do wound. 'Tis death alone that this must do: For Death thou art a Mower too.