Admetus Sonnet

Neighbour Swaines and Swainelius heare me,
"Its Admetus bids you heare,
Leaue your Pastures, and come neere mee,
"Come away you need not feare,
By my soule, as I affect you,
I haue nought that can infect you.
O then come,
Heare a tongue,
That in discord keepes a part,
With a Woe-surcharged heart.

Nere was Swaine on plaine more loued,
Or could doe more feats then I,
Yet one griefe hath now remoued,
All my whilome iollity.
All my Laies be quite forgotten,
Sheepe-hooke broken, pipe-bagge rotten,
O then come,
Heare a tongue.
That with flattering speech doth call,
To take long farewell of all.

I am not as once I was,
When Eliza first did suite me,
Nor when that same red-hair'd lasse,
Faire Bellina did inuite me,
To a Garden there to play,
Cull, kisse, clip, and toy all day,
O then come,
Heare a tongue,
That in wooing termes was flowing,
But through Wo has spoil'd his woing.

All I can or will desire ye
When my breath of life is spent,
That in loue you would interre me,
(For it will my soule content,)
Neare vnto my Fathers hearse,
And bestow some comely verse
On my Tombe,
Then my tongue
Shall throb out this last adeu,
Nere were truer swaines then you.

A verse Admetus? I will be the swaine,
Though most vnfit, to vndertake that paine,
Which in faire letters shall engrauen be,
Ouer thy hearse t'expresse thy memory,
And thus it is: Heere is a Shepheard layd,
Who lou'd, was lou'd, yet liu'd and died a Maid.
Yet gainst his will: pray then good spirits tell,
Whether he must or no lead Apes in Hell.