That is so oft benempt? THOM. He is a shepheard great in gree, But hath been long ypent: One day he sat upon a hill, As now thou wouldest me; But I am taught, by Algrind's ill, To love the low degree; For sitting so with bared scalp, An eagle[13] soared high, That, weening his white head was chalk, A shell-fish down let fly; She ween'd the shell-fish to have broke, But therewith bruis'd his brain; So now, astonied with the stroke, He lies in lingering pain. MOR. Ah! good Algrind! his hap was ill, But shall be better in time. Now farewell, shepheard, sith this hill Thou hast such doubt to climb. PALINODE'S EMBLEME. _In medio virtus._ (Virtue dwells in the middle place.) MORRELL'S EMBLEME. _In summo felicitas._ (Happiness in the highest.) [Illustration: AUGUST AEGLOGA OCTAVA EMBLEMES] AUGUST. ÆGLOGA OCTAVA. ARGUMENT. In this Æglogue is set forth a delectable controversy, made in imitation of that in Theocritus: whereto also Virgil fashioned his third and seventh Æglogue. They chose for umpire of their strife, Cuddy, a neat-herd's boy; who, having ended their cause, reciteth also himself a proper song, whereof Colin he saith was author. WILLIE. PERIGOT. CUDDIE. WILLIE. Tell me, Perigot, what shall be the game, Wherefore with mine thou dare thy music match? Or be thy bagpipes run far out of frame? Or hath the cramp thy joints benumb'd with ache? PER. Ah! Willie, when the heart is ill assay'd, How can bagpipe or joints be well apaid? WIL. What the foul evil hath thee so bestad? Whilome thou was peregall to the best, And wont to make the jolly shepheards glad, With piping and dancing didst pass the rest. PER. Ah! Willie, now I have learn'd a new dance; My old music marr'd by a new mischance. WIL. Mischief might to that mischance befall, That so hath reft us of our merriment; But rede me what pain doth thee so appal; Or lovest thou, or be thy younglings miswent? PER. Love hath misled both my younglings and me; I pine for pain, and they my pain to see. WIL. Perdie, and wellaway! ill may they thrive; Never knew I lover's sheep in good plight: But and if in rhymes with me thou dare strive, Such fond fantasies shall soon be put to flight. PER. That shall I do, though mochell worse I fared: Never shall be said that Perigot was dared. WIL. Then lo, Perigot, the pledge which I plight, A mazer ywrought of the maple warre, Wherein is enchased many a fair sight Of bears and tigers, that maken fierce war; And over them spread a goodly wild vine, Entrailed with a wanton ivy twine. Thereby is a lamb in the wolvës jaws; But see, how fast runneth the shepheard swain To save the innocent from the beast's paws,