Shakespeare's Lucrece, and several other pieces of nearly equal value, in the finest possible condition. THE AFFECTIONATE SHEPHEARD. CONTAINING THE COMPLAINT OF DAPHNIS FOR THE LOUE OF GANYMEDE. _Amor plus mellis, quam fellis, est._ London: Printed by John Danter, for T. G. and E. N., and are to bee sold in Saint Dunstones Church-yeard in Fleetstreet. 1594. TO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT AND MOST BEAUTIFULL LADY, THE LADIE PENELOPE RITCH. Fayre lovely ladie, whose angelique eyes Are vestall candles of sweet beauties treasure, Whose speech is able to inchaunt the wise, Converting joy to paine, and paine to pleasure; Accept this simple toy of my soules dutie, Which I present unto thy matchles beautie. And albeit the gift be all too meane, Too meane an offring for thine ivorie shrine; Yet must thy beautie my just blame susteane, Since it is mortall, but thyselfe divine. Then, noble ladie, take in gentle worth This new-borne babe, which here my muse brings forth. Your Honours most affectionate and perpetually devoted Shepheard: DAPHNIS. THE AFFECTIONATE SHEPHEARD. THE TEARES OF AN AFFECTIONATE SHEPHEARD SICKE FOR LOVE, OR THE COMPLAINT OF DAPHNIS FOR THE LOVE OF GANIMEDE. Scarce had the morning starre hid from the light Heavens crimson canopie with stars bespangled, But I began to rue th' unhappy sight Of that faire boy that had my hart intangled; Cursing the time, the place, the sense, the sin; I came, I saw, I viewd, I slipped in. If it be sinne to love a sweet-fac'd boy, Whose amber locks trust up in golden tramels Dangle adowne his lovely cheekes with joy, When pearle and flowers his faire haire enamels; If it be sinne to love a lovely lad, Oh then sinne I, for whom my soule is sad. His ivory-white and alablaster skin Is staind throughout with rare vermillion red, Whose twinckling starrie lights doe never blin To shine on lovely Venus, Beauties bed; But as the lillie and the blushing rose, So white and red on him in order growes. Upon a time the nymphs bestird them-selves To trie who could his beautie soonest win; But he accounted them but all as elves, Except it were the faire Queene Guendolen: Her he embrac'd, of her was beloved, With plaints he proved, and with teares he moved. But her an old man had beene sutor too, That in his age began to doate againe; Her would he often pray, and often woo, When through old age enfeebled was his braine: But she before had lov'd a lustie youth, That now was dead, the cause of all her ruth.