The Shepherd Firmius his Song

Shepherds, give ear, and now be still,
Unto my passions and their cause.
And what they be;
Since that with such an earnest will
And such great signs of friendship's laws,
You ask it me.

It is not long since I was whole.
Nor since I did in every part
Free-will resign;
It is not long since in my sole
Possession I did know my heart.

And to be mine.
It is not long since, even and morrow,
All pleasure that my heart could find
Was in my power;
It is not long since grief and sorrow
My loving heart began to bind.

And to devour.
It is not long since company
I did esteem a joy indeed
Still to frequent;
Nor long, since solitarily
I lived and that this life did breed
My sole content.

Desirous I (wretched) to see,
But thinking not to see so much
As then I saw;
Love made me know in what degree
His valour and brave force did touch
Me with his law.

First he did put no more nor less
Into my heart than he did view
That there did want;
But when my breast in such excess
Of lively flames to burn I knew,
Then were so scant
My joys, that now did so abate,
(Myself estranged every way
From former rest)
That I did know that my estate,
And that my life, was every day
In Death's arrest.

I put my hand into my side
To see what was the cause of this
Unwonted vein.
Where I did find that torments hied
By endless death to prejudice
My life with pain.

Because I saw that there did want
My heart, wherein I did delight.
My dearest heart;
And he that did the same supplant
No jurisdiction had of right
To play that part.

The judge and robber that remain
Within my soul, their cause to try,
Are there all one;
And so the giver of the pain,
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 grieve,
As I do see;
But for because I heard her say,
" None die for love, for I believe
None such there be."

Then this thou shalt believe by me
Too late, and without remedy,
As did in brief
Anaxarete, and thou shalt see
The little she did satisfy
With after grief.