Page:Shepheards Calendar-Crane 1898.djvu/31



JANUARIE.

In this first glogue Colin Clout, a shepheard’s boy, complaineth himself of his unfortunate love, being but newly (as seemeth) enamoured of a country lass called Rosalind: with which strong affection being very sore travailed, he compareth his careful case to the sad season of the year, to the frosty ground, to the frozen trees, and to his own winter-beaten flock. And lastly, finding himself robbed of all former pleasance and delight, he breaketh his pipe in pieces, and casteth himself to the ground.

COLIN CLOUT.

A shepheard’s boy, (no better do him call,)

When winter’s wasteful spite was almost spent,

All in a sunshine day, as did befall,

Led forth his flock, that had been long ypent:

So faint they wox, and feeble in the fold,

That now unnethes their feet could them uphold.

All as the sheep, such was the shepheard’s look,

For pale and wan he was, (alas the while!)

May seem he lov’d, or else some care he took;

Well couth he tune his pipe and frame his style:

Then to a hill his fainting flock he led,

And thus him plain’d, the while his sheep there fed:

“Ye gods of love! that pity lovers’ pain,

(If any gods the pain of lovers pity,)

Look from above, where you in joys remain,