Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/152

 May heavenly tabernacles there inherit, Of blessèd Saints for to increase the count. So let us rest, sweet love, in hope of this, And cease till then our tymely joyes to sing: The woods no more us answer, nor our eccho ring!

''Song! made in lieu of many ornaments. With which my love should duly have been dect, Which cutting off through hasty accidents, Ye would not stay your dew time to expect But promist both to recompens; Be unto her a goodly ornament, And for short time an endlesse moniment.  83. From 'Daphnaïda'''

An Elegy

fell away in her first ages spring, Whil'st yet her leafe was greene, and fresh her rinde, And whil'st her braunch faire blossomes foorth did bring, She fell away against all course of kinde. For age to dye is right, but youth is wrong; She fel away like fruit blowne downe with winde. Weepe, Shepheard! weepe, to make my undersong.

Yet fell she not as one enforst to dye, Ne dyde with dread and grudging discontent, But as one toyld with travaile downe doth lye, So lay she downe, as if to sleepe she went, And closde her eyes with carelesse quietnesse; The whiles soft death away her spirit hent, And soule assoyld from sinfull fleshlinesse.