SHEPHERD

Well done my pretty ones, rain Roses still, Until the last be drapt: Then hence: and-fill Your fragrant prickles for a second shower, Bring Corn-flag, Tulips, and Adonis flower, Fair Oxy, Goldy-locks, and Columbine, Pinks, Goulands, Kingcups, and sweet Sops-in-wine, Blue Harebells, Pagles, Pansies, Calaminth, Flower-gentle, and the fairhaired Hyacinth, Bring rich Carnations, Floure-de-luces, Lilies, The chequ'd, and purple-ringed Daffodillies, Bright Crown-imperial, Kings-spear, Holy-hocks, Sweet Venus Navel, and soft Lady-smocks, Bring too, some branches forth of Daphne's hair, And gladdest myrtle for these posts to wear With Spikenard weaved, and Marjoram between, And stared with yellow-golds, and Meadows ueene, That when the Altar, as it ought is dressed, More odour come not from the Phoenix nest; The breadth thereof Panchaia may envy, The colours China, and the light the sky. It's boldly attempted, and must be a Baeotian enterprise by the face of it, from all the parts of Greece else, especially at this time when the best, and bravest spirits of Arcadia, called together by the excellent Arcas, are yonder sitting about the Fountain of light, in consultation of what ho nours they may do the great Pan by increase of anniversary rites fitted to the Music of his peace. This is short, though not so sweet. Surely the better partly of the so lemnitie here will be dancing. A high one. A most politic provision. Faith, your folly may deserve pardon, because it hath delighted: But, beware of presuming, or how you offer comparison with persons so near Deities. Behold where they are, that are now forgiven you, whom should you provoke again with the Like, they will justly punish that with anger, which they now dismiss with contempt, Away. And come you prime Arcadians forth, that taught By PAN the rites of true society, From his loud Music, all your manners wraught And made your Commonwealth a harmony Commending so to all posterity. Your innocence from that fair Fount of light As still you fit without the injury Of any rudeness, Folly can, or spite: Dance from the top of the Lycaean mountain Down to this valley, and with nearer eye Enjoy, what long in that illumined Fountain You did far of, but yet with wonder spy. Nay, then they are passed pity, let them come, and not expect the anger of a Deity to pursue them, but meet them. They have their punishment with their fact. They shall be sheep. You speak in time Sir. Now let them return with their solid heads, and carry their stupidi tie into Boeotia, whence they brought it, with and emblem of themselves, and their Country. This is too pure and air for so gross Brains. End you the rites, and so be eased Of these, and then great Pan is pleased. Now each return unto his Charge, And though to day you have lived at large, And well your flocks have fed their fill, Yet do not trust your hirelings still. See, yonder they go, and timely do The office you have put them to, But if you often give this leave Your sheep, and you they will deceive.