Sheepheards give eare, and now be still
Unto my passions, and their cause,
and what they be:
Since that with such an earnest will,
And such great signes of friendships lawes,
you aske it me.
It is not long since I was whole,
Nor since I did in every part
free-will resigne:
It is not long since in my sole
Possession, I did know my hart,
and to be mine.
It is not long, since even and morrow,
All pleasure that my hart could finde,
was in my power:
It is not long, since greefe and sorrow,
My loving hart began to binde,
and to devoure.
It is not long, since companie
I did esteeme a joy indeede
still to frequent:
Nor long, since solitarilie
I liv’d, and that this life did breede
my sole content.
Desirous I (wretched) to see,
But thinking not to see so much
as then I sawe:
Love made me know in what degree,
His valour and brave force did touch
me with his lawe.
First he did put no more nor lesse
Into my hart, then he did view
that there did want:
But when my breast in such excesse
Of lively flames to burne I knew,
then were so scant
My joyes, that now did so abate,
(My selfe estraunged every way
from former rest):
That I did know, that my estate,
And that my life was every day,
in deaths arrest.
I put my hand into my side,
To see what was the cause of this
unwonted vaine:
Where I did finde, that torments hied
By endlesse death to prejudice
my life with paine.
Because I sawe that there did want
My hart, wherein I did delight,
my dearest hart:
And he that did the same supplant,
No jurisdiction had of right
to play that part.
The Judge and the Robber, that remaine
Within my soule, their cause to trie,
are there all one:
And so the giver of the paine,
And he that is condemn’d to die
or I, or none.
To die I care not any way,
Though without why, to die I greeve,
as I doo see:
But for because I heard her say,
None die for love, for I beleeve
none such there be.
Then this thou shalt beleeve by me
Too late, and without remedie
as did in briefe:
Anaxarete, and thou shalt see,
The little she did satisfie
with after griefe.
(Bartholomew Young)
More Poetry from Bartholomew Young:
Bartholomew Young Poems based on Topics: Love, Joy & Excitement, Life, Passion, Death & Dying, Power, Sadness, Law & Regulation, Possession- The Sheepheard Arsileus Replie to Syrenus Song (Bartholomew Young Poems)
- Syernus Song to Eugerius (Bartholomew Young Poems)
- The Sheepheard Carillo His Song (Bartholomew Young Poems)
- Cinthia the Nimph, Her Song To Faire Polydora (Bartholomew Young Poems)
- Arsileus His Caroll, For Joy of the New Mariage, Betweene Syrenus and Diana (Bartholomew Young Poems)
- The Sheepheard Delicius His Dittie (Bartholomew Young Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Life Poems, Sadness Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Power Poems, Law & Regulation Poems, Passion Poems, Possession PoemsBased on Keywords: lawes, binde, esteeme, beleeve, supplant, burne, signes, endlesse, aske, sawe, trie