Sweet ORPHEUS' harp, whose sound
The stedfast mountains moved,
Let here thy skill abound,

To join sweet friends beloved.
Join hearts and hands, &c.

Who never joy, but when

I am with you together.
Join hands, &c.

Like lovers do their love,
So joy I in you seeing:

Let nothing me remove

From always with you being.
Join hands, &c.

And as the turtle Dove

To mate with whom he liveth,

Such comfort fervent love

Of you to my heart giveth.
Join hands, &c.

Now joined be our hands,

Let them be ne'er asunder,

But link'd in binding bands

By metamorphosed wonder.

So should our sever'd bodies three

As one for ever joined be.

SIR PH. SIDney.

DISPRAISE OF A COURTLY LIFE.

WALKING in bright PHŒBUS' blaze,

Where with heat oppress'd I was,

I got to a shady wood,

Where green leaves did newly bud;

And of grass was plenty dwelling,
Deck'd with pied flowers sweetly smelling.

In this wood a man I met,

On lamenting wholly set;
Ruing change of wonted state,

Whence he was transformed late,
Once to Shepherds' God retaining,
Now in servile Court remaining.

There he wandering malecontent,
Up and down perplexed went,
Daring not to tell to me,
Spake unto a senseless tree,

One among the rest electing,

These same words, or this affecting:

Where we once our lovely sheep
Lovingly like friends did keep;
Oft each others friendship proving,
Never striving, but in loving.

But may love abiding be
In poor shepherds' base degree?
It belongs to such alone

To whom art of Love is known :
Seely shepherds are not witting
What in art of love is fitting.

Nay, what need the art to those
To whom we our love disclose ?
It is to be used then,

When we do but flatter men:
Friendship true, in heart assured,
Is by Nature's gifts procured.

Therefore shepherds wanting skill,
Can Love's duties best fulfil;
Since they know not how to feign,
Nor with love to cloak disdain,

g In Todd's Johnson this word is described on the authority of Chaucer and Spenser to mean lucky, happy; and likewise, agreeably to the usage of the latter writer, silly, inoffensive, harmless. Perhaps the instance in the text, as well as that in the next page, afford the best proof which can be adduced of the word being used synonimously with silly, ignorant, or simple.

D

Like the wiser sort, whose learning
Hides their inward will of harming.

Well was I, while under shade
Oaten reeds me music made,
Striving with my mates in song;

Mixing mirth our songs among.
Greater was the shepherd's treasure,
Than this false, fine, courtly pleasure.

Where how many creatures be,
So many puff'd in mind I see;
Like to JUNO's birds of pride,
Scarce each other can abide :

Friends like to black swans appearing,

Sooner these than those in hearing.

Therefore, PAN, if thou mayest be
Made to listen unto me,
Grant, I say, if seely man
May make treaty to god PAN,
That I, without thy denying,
May be still to thee relying.

Only for my two loves' sake,

In whose love I pleasure take;

Sir Ed. D. &
M. F. G.h

h Sir Edward Dyer and M. Fulke Greville.