=Lycon.= [Illustration] COLIN! well fits thy sad cheer this sad stound, This woeful stound, wherein all things complain This great mishap, this grievous loss of ours. Hear'st thou the Orown? How with hollow sound He slides away, and murmuring doth plain, And seems to say unto the fading flowers Along his banks, unto the barèd trees; PHILLISIDES is dead. Up, jolly swain! Thou that with skill canst tune a doleful lay; Help him to mourn! My heart with grief doth freeze; Hoarse is my voice with crying, else a part Sure would I bear, though rude: but as I may, With sobs and sighs I second will thy song; And so express the sorrows of my heart. =Colin.= Ah LYCON! LYCON! what need skill to teach A grievèd mind pour forth his plaints? How long Hath the poor turtle gone to school, weenest thou, To learn to mourn her lost make? No, no, each Creature by nature can tell how to wail. Seest not these flocks; how sad they wander now? Seemeth their leader's bell, their bleating tunes In doleful sound. Like him, not one doth fail, With hanging head to show a heavy cheer. What bird, I pray thee, hast thou seen that prunes Himself of late? Did any cheerful note Come to thine ears, or gladsome sight appear Unto thine eyes, since that same fatal hour? Hath not the air put on his mourning coat, And testified his grief with flowing tears? Sith then, it seemeth each thing to his power, Doth us invite to make a sad consort: Come let us join our mournful song with theirs! Grief will indite, and sorrow will enforce Thy voice; and ECHO will our words report. =Lycon.= Though my rude rhymes, ill with thy verses frame, That others far excel: yet will I force Myself to answer thee the best I can; And honour my base words with his high name. But if my plaints annoy thee where thou sit In secret shade or cave; vouchsafe, O PAN! To pardon me; and hear this hard constraint With patience, while I sing; and pity it. And eke ye rural Muses, that do dwell In these wild woods: if ever piteous plaint We did indite, or taught a woeful mind With words of pure affect, his grief to tell; Instruct me now! Now COLIN then go on; And I will follow thee, though far behind.