Page:Complete Poems of Richard Barnfield.djvu/137



Louely a Lasse, so loued a Lasse, and (alas) such a louing

Lasse, for a while (but a while) was none such a sweet bonny Lasse

As Helen, Mænelaus louing, lou'd, louelie a loue-lasse,

Till spightfull Fortune from a loue-lasse made her a loue-lesse

Wife. From a wise woman to a witles wanton abandond,

When her mate (vnawares) made warres in Peloponessus,

Adultrous Paris (then a Boy) kept sheepe as a shepheard

On Ida Mountaine, vnknowne to the King for a Keeper

Of sheep, on Ida Mountaine, as a Boy, as a shepheard:

Yet such sheep he kept, and was so seemelie a shepheard,

Seemlie a Boy, so seemlie a youth, so seemlie a Younker,

That on Ida was not such a Boy, such a youth, such a Younker.

Sonne now reconcil'd to the Father, fained a letter

Sent him by Iupiter (the greatest God in Olympus)

For to repaire with speede to the brauest Græcian Hauen,

And to redeeme againe Hesyone latelie reuolted

From Troy by Ayax, whom she had newly betrothed.

Well, so well be told his tale to his Aunt Amaryllis