The trees spread out their arms to shade her face, But she on elbow lean’d, with sighs did show No grass, no trees, nor yet her sparrow might The long-perplexed mind breed long delight. She troubled was (alas that it might be!) With tedious brawlings of her parents dear, Who would have her in will and word agree To wed Antaxius their neighbour near. A herdman rich, of much account was he, In whom no evil did reign, nor good appear. In some such one she lik’d not his desire, Fain would be free, but dreadeth parents’ ire. Kindly (sweet soul!) she did unkindness take That bagged baggage of a miser’s mud, Should price of her, as in a market, make; But gold can gild a rotten piece of wood; To yield she found her noble heart to ache, To strive she fear’d how it with virtue stood, Thus doubtings clouds o’ercasting heav’nly brain, At length in rows of kiss-cheeks tears they rain. Cupid the wag, that lately conquer’d had Wise counsellors, stout captains, puissant kings, And tied them fast to lead his triumph had, Glutted with them, now plays with meanest things: So oft in feasts with costly changes clad To crammed maws a sprat new stomach brings. So lords with sport of stag and heron full, Sometimes we see small birds from nests do pull. So now for prey those shepherds two he took, Whose metal stiff he knew he could not bend With hear-say pictures, or a window-look; With one good dance, or letter finely penn’d That were in court a well proportion’d hook, {112} Where piercing wits do quickly apprehend, Their senses rude plain objects only move, And so must see great cause before they love. Therefore love arm’d in her now takes the field, Making her beams his bravery and might: Her hands which pierc’d the soul’s sev’n double shield, Were now his darts leaving his wonted fight. Brave crest to him her scorn gold hair did yield, His complete harness was her purest white. But fearing lest all white might seem too good, In cheeks and lips the tyrant threatens blood. Besides this force, within her eyes he kept A fire, to burn the prisoners he gains, Whose boiling heart increased as she wept: For ev’n in forge, cold water fire maintains. Thus proud and fierce unto the hearts he stepp’d Of them poor souls: and cutting reason’s reins, Made them his own before they had it wist. But if they had, could sheep-hooks thus resist? Claius straight felt, and groaned at the blow, And call’d, now wounded, purpose to his aid: Strephon, fond boy, delighted did not know That it was love that shin’d in shining maid: But lick’rous, poison’d, fain to her would go, If him new learned manners had not stay’d. For then Urania homeward did arise, Leaving in pain their well-fed hungry eyes. She went, they stay’d, or rightly for to say, She stay’d with them, they went in thought with her: Claius indeed would fain have pull’d away