Melicertus' Madrigal

What are my sheep without their wonted food?
What is my life except I gain my love?
My sheep consume and faint for want of blood.
My life is lost unless I grace approve.
No flower that sapless thrives.
No turtle without fere.
The day, without the sun, doth lower for woe;
Then woe mine eyes, unless they beauty see!

My sun Samela's eyes, by whom I know
Wherein delight consists, where pleasures be.
Nought more the heart revives
Than to embrace his dear.
The stars from earthly humours gain their light.
Our humours by their light possess their power:
Samela's eyes, fed by my weeping sight,
Infuse my pains or joys, by smile or lower.

So wends the source of love,
It feeds, it fails, it ends.
Kind looks, clear to your joy, behold her eyes.
Admire her heart, desire to taste her kisses:
In them the heaven of joy and solace lies.
Without them every hope his succour misses.
Oh, how I live to prove,
Whereto this solace tends!