For he could pipe, and dance, and carol sweet; Emongst the shepherds in their shearing feast: As summer's lark that with her song doth greet The dawning day, forth coming from the East. And lays of love he also would compose. Thrice happy she! whom he to praise did choose. Full many maidens often did him woo, Them to vouchsafe, emongst his rhymes to name: Or make for them, as he was wont to do, For her that did his heart with love inflame; For which they promised to dight for him, Gay chaplets of flowers and garlands trim. And many a nymph, both of the wood and brook, Soon as his oaten pipe began to shrill; Both crystal wells and shady groves forsook, To hear the charms of his enchanting skill: And brought him presents; flowers, if it were prime: Or mellow fruit, if it were harvest time. But he for none of them did care a whit; Yet wood-gods for them oft sighed sore: Ne for their gifts unworthy of his wit, Yet not unworthy of the country's store. For One alone he cared, for One he sighed His life's treasure, and his dear love's delight. STELLA the fair! the fairest star in sky: As fair as VENUS, or the fairest fair. A fairer star saw never living eye, Shot her sharp pointed beams through purest air. Her, he did love; her, he alone he did honour; His thoughts, his rhymes, his songs were all upon her. To her, he vowed the service of his days; On her, he spent the riches of his wit; For her, he made hymns of immortal praise: Of only her; he sang, he thought, he writ. Her, and but her, of love he worthy deemed: For all the rest, but little he esteemed. Ne her with idle words alone he vowed, And verses vain--yet verses are not vain: But with brave deeds, to her sole service vowed; And bold achievements, her did entertain. For both in deeds and words he nurtured was. Both wise and hardy--too hardy, alas! In wrestling, nimble; and in running, swift; In shooting, steady; and in swimming, strong: Well made to strike, to throw, to leap, to lift, And all the sports that shepherds are emong. In every one, he vanquished every one, He vanquished all, and vanquished was of none. Besides, in hunting such felicity Or rather infelicity, he found; That every field and forest far away He sought, where savage beasts do most abound. No beast so savage, but he could it kill: No chase so hard, but he therein had skill. Such skill, matched with such courage as he had, Did prick him forth with proud desire of praise; To seek abroad, of danger nought y'drad, His mistress' name and his own fame to raise. What need, peril to be sought abroad? Since round about us, it doth make abode.