13 'For thou went'st first by suit to seek A tiger to make tame, That sets not by thy love a leek, But makes thy grief a game. 14 'As easy it were for to convert The frost into the flame; As for to turn a froward hert, Whom thou so fain wouldst frame. 15 'Cerin he liveth careless: He leaps among the leaves: He eats the fruits of thy redress: Thou reap'st, he takes the sheaves. 16 'My beasts, a while your food refrain, And hark your herdman's sound; Whom spiteful love, alas! hath slain, Through girt with many a wound, 17 'O happy be ye, beastes wild, That here your pasture takes: I see that ye be not beguiled Of these your faithful makes,[5] 18 'The hart he feedeth by the hind: The buck hard by the doe: The turtle-dove is not unkind To him that loves her so. 19 'The ewe she hath by her the ram: The young cow hath the bull: The calf with many a lusty lamb Do feed their hunger full. 20 'But, well-a-way! that nature wrought Thee, Phillida, so fair: For I may say that I have bought Thy beauty all too dear. 21 'What reason is that cruelty With, beauty should have part? Or else that such great tyranny Should dwell in woman's heart? 22 'I see therefore to shape my death She cruelly is prest,[6] To the end that I may want my breath: My days be at the best. 23 'O Cupid, grant this my request, And do not stop thine ears: That she may feel within her breast The pains of my despairs: 24 'Of Corin that is careless, That she may crave her fee: As I have done in great distress, That loved her faithfully. 25 'But since that I shall die her slave, Her slave, and eke her thrall, Write you, my friends, upon my grave This chance that is befall: 26 '"Here lieth unhappy Harpalus, By cruel love now slain: Whom Phillida unjustly thus Hath murder'd with disdain."' [1] 'Yfere' together. [2] 'Forced' cared for. [3] 'Shent:' spoiled. [4] 'Forwacht:' from much watching. [5] 'Makes:' mates. [6] 'Prest:' ready. A PRAISE OF HIS LADY. 1 Give place, you ladies, and begone, Boast not yourselves at all, For here at hand approacheth one Whose face will stain you all. 2 The virtue of her lively looks Excels the precious stone; I wish to have none other books To read or look upon. 3 In each of her two crystal eyes Smileth a naked boy; It would you all in heart suffice To see that lamp of joy. 4 I think Nature hath lost the mould Where she her shape did take; Or else I doubt if Nature could So fair a creature make. 5 She may be well compared Unto the phoenix kind, Whose like was never seen nor heard, That any man can find. 6 In life she is Diana chaste, In truth Penelope; In word, and eke in deed, steadfast; What will you more we say?