Walking in bright Phoebus blaze,
Where with heate opprest I was,
I got to a shady wood,
Where greene leaves did newly bud
And of grasse was plenty dwelling,
Deckt with pide flowers sweetly smelling.
In this wood a man I met,
On lamenting wholy set:
Ruing change of wonted state,
Whence he was transformed late,
Once to Shepheards God retaining,
Now in servile Court remaining.
There he wandring malcontent,
Up and downe perplexed went,
Daring not to tell to me,
Spake unto a senselesse tree,
One amongst the rest electing
These same words, or this effecting.
My old mates I grieve to see,
Voyde of me in field to be,
Where we once our lovely sheepe,
Lovingly like friends did keepe,
Oft each others friendship proving,
Never striving, but in loving.
But may Love abiding be
In poore shepheards base degree?
It belongs to such alone
To whom art of Love is knowne:
Seely shepheards are not witting
What in art of Love is fitting.
Nay what need the art to those,
To whom we our love disclose?
It is to be used then,
When we doe but flatter men:
Friendship true in heart assured,
Is by natures gifts procured.
Therefore shepheards wanting skil,
Can Loves duties best fulfill,
Since they know not how to faine,
Nor with Love to cloake Disdaine:
Like the wiser sort, whose learning
Hides their inward will of harming.
Well was I, while under shade
Oaten Reeds me musick made,
Striving with my mates in Song:
Mixing mirth our Songs among,
Greater was the shepheards treasure,
Then this false, fine, courtly pleasure.
Where, how many Creatures be,
So many puft in mind I see,
Like to Junoes birds of pride,
Scarce each other can abide:
Friends like to black Swans apearing
Sooner these than those in hearing.
Therefore Pan, if thou mayest be,
Made to listen unto me,
Grant I say (if seely man
May make treaty to God Pan)
That I, without thy denying,
May be still to thee relying.
Only for my two loves sake,
In whose love I pleasure take,
Onely two do me delight
With their ever pleasing sight,
Of all men to thee retaining.
Grant me with those two remaining.
So shall I to thee alwaies,
With my reeds sound mighty praise,
And first Lambe that shall befall,
Yearely decke thine Altar shall,
If it please thee to be reflected,
And I from thee not rejected.
So I left him in that place,
Taking pittie on his case,
Learning this among the rest
That the meane estate is best,
Better filled with contenting
Void of wishing and repenting.
Sir Ph. Sidney.