The Shepherd's Description of Love

"Shepherd, what's love? I pray thee tell!"— It is that fountain, and that well, Where pleasure and repentance dwell; It is, perhaps, that passing bell That tolls us all to heaven or hell; And this is love, as I heard tell.

"Yet, what is love? good shepherd, saine!"— It is a sunshine mix'd with rain; It is a toothache, or like pain; It is a game where none doth gain: The lass saith No, and would full fain! And this is love, as I hear saine.

"Yet, shepherd, what is love, I pray?"— It is a "Yea," it is a "Nay," A pretty kind of sporting fray; It is a thing will soon away; Then, nymphs, take vantage while ye may, And this is love, as I hear say.

"Yet what is love? good shepherd, show!"— A thing that creeps, it cannot go, A prize that passeth to and fro, A thing for one, a thing for moe; And he that proves shall find it so; And, shepherd, this is love, I trow.