OLD MAN

No sickness (sir) but very age did of his life him reave. Your Father's kingdom ought all dreaded out of your mind to driven. Do you your Mother fear? on your return that only slays. Tell me (Oh king) what doubtful fear? does press thy princely breast: Kings cou ̄ cells I can well continued ̄ ceale that en with Cares oppressed. Such vain & peevish fears, at length from out your breast exile. Meropa your Mother is not in deed, you do your self beguile . A kingdom she shall gain thereby. Her Husband laid in graven. The chiefest prop to S ay her Realms from present confusion, In children for to have: and hope of lawful succession. My self (your grace) and Infant gave into your father's hand. A Shepherd str; that w nted on Cytheron Hills to be. Upon those Hills my Beasts I kept, sometime a Sheepeherde to. Now stay (Oh king) p farther now, you know almost the troth. What will you her a Widow leave? Perhaps I should him find, And know by Face. Things over whelmed by time, and quite oppressed. A small mark oft to mind revokes, and fresh renews in breast. The holes y through your feet are board from ̄ when ̄ ce your name did gro. The kings chief Shepherd than that was, delivered you to me. Oh king old men's reme ̄ brance soon does fail: Obliuton for the chietest partly, does boary heads assail. And drowns their former memory of things long out of mind. Sith that your des nigh this does hide, and Fortune it detayue And closely keep let it be so, from opening that refrain. That long canceald hath hidden lyen, that seek not to disclose Such things outsercht and fou ̄ worser oftimes against the searcher goes. Advise you well remember First what weight this thing does bear: That thus you go about to scarch, and slit with Tooth and Nail, Observe the golden mean: beware bear still and equal sail. Your Cou ̄ treys wealth (Oh King) your life, and all upon this lies. Though you stir not, be sure at length your Fortune you escryes. A happy state for to disturb does nought at all behoove. Can you have ought more excellent? than is a Princes state? Beware least of your Parents found it you repent to late. Me thinks I should have seen his Face, and yet I cannot show The places where I have him seen, small time brings such a change, As well acquainted Faces ost, to us appear still straying. This look is neither thoroughly known, nor yet unknown to me, I cannot tell: I doubt it much, and yet it may be he. In Laius time long since when he these Kingdoms great did keep? Wast thou not on Citheron hills chief Shepherd to his sheep? Knowest thou not me. Eo? God forbid, he lives no doubt, and long may live I pray.