The Shepherd to his Mistress

Hale thou fairest of all Creatures, Upon whom the Sun doth shine, Model of all rairest Features, And Perfections most Divine; Thrice all-hale and blessed be Those that love and honour thee.

By thy Beauty I have gained To behold the best Perfections, By thy Love I have obtained To enjoy the best affections, And my Tongue to sing thy praise, Love and Beauty thus doth raise.

VVhat, although in Rustick Shadows I a Shepherds breeding had, And confined to these Meadows, So in home-spun Russet clad, Such as I have now and then, Dar'd as much as greater men.

On this Glass of thy Perfection, If that any VVomen pry, Let them thereby take direction To adorn themselves thereby. And if ought amiss they view, Let them dress themselves anew.

Young men may by this acquainted, VVith the truest Beauties grow, So the counterfeit and painted They may shun, when them they know. But the way all will not find, For some Eyes have, yet are blind

Those that Mistresses are named, And for that suspected be, Shall not need to be ashamed, If they patern take by thee; Neither shall their Servant fear Favours openly to wear.

Thou to no man favour dainest, But what's fitting to bestow, Neither Servants entertainest, That can ever wanton grow; For the more they look on thee, Their desires still bettered be.

I am no Italian lover, That will mew thee in a Goal, But thy Beauty I discover, English-like, without a vail: If thou may'st be won away, Win and wear thee he that may.

Yet in this thou may'st believe me, So indifferent though I seem, Death with tortures would not grieve me More, then loss of thy esteem. For if Virtue me forsake, All a scorn of me will make.