"O grief! that liest upon my soul, As heavy as a mount of lead; The remnant of my life control, Consort me quickly with the dead! Half of this heart, this sprite and will, Died in the breast of ASTROPHIL." "And you compassionate of my woe, Gentle birds, beasts, and shady trees! I am assured ye long to know What be the sorrows me aggrieves; Listen ye then to what ensu'th, And hear a tale of tears and ruth." "You knew, who knew not ASTROPHIL? (That I should live to say I knew, And have not in possession still!) Things known, permit me to renew: Of him you know, his merit such, I cannot say, you hear too much." "Within these woods of Arcady, His chief delight and pleasure took: And on the mountain Partheny, Upon the crystal liquid brook, The Muses met him every day; That taught him sing, to write, and say." "When he descended down the mount, His personage seemed most divine; A thousand graces one might count Upon his lovely cheerful eyen: To hear him speak, and sweetly smile; You were in Paradise the while." "A sweet attractive kind of grace; A full assurance given by looks; Continual comfort in a face, The lineaments of Gospel books. I trow that countenance cannot lie, Whose thoughts are legible in the eye." "Was ever eye did see that face; Was never ear did hear that tongue; Was never mind did mind his grace; That ever thought the travail long: But eyes and ears and every thought, Were with his sweet perfections caught." "O GOD! that such a worthy man, In whom so rare deserts did reign; Desired thus, must leave us then: And we to wish for him in vain. O could the stars that bred that wit, In force no longer fixèd sit." "Then being filled with learned dew, The Muses willèd him to love: That instrument can aptly show, How finely our conceits will move. As BACCHUS opes dissembled hearts, So LOVE sets out our better parts." "STELLA, a nymph within this wood, Most rare, and rich of heavenly bliss; The highest in his fancy stood, And she could well demerit this. 'Tis likely, they acquainted soon: He was a sun, and she a moon." "Our ASTROPHIL did STELLA love. O STELLA! vaunt of ASTROPHIL! Albeit thy graces gods may move; Where wilt thou find an ASTROPHIL? The rose and lily have their prime; And so hath beauty but a time," "Although thy beauty do exceed In common sight of every eye; Yet in his poesies when we read, It is apparent more thereby. He that hath love and judgment too, Sees more than any others do."