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Melibœus. SHEPHERD, what’s love, I pray thee tell? | |
| Fau. It is that fountain and that well | |
| Where pleasure and repentance dwell; | |
| It is perhaps that sauncing bell | |
| That tolls all into heaven or hell; | 5 |
| And this is love as I heard tell. | |
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| Meli. Yet what is love, I prithee say? | |
| Fau. It is a work on holiday; | |
| It is December matched with May, | |
| When lusty bloods, in fresh array, | 10 |
| Hear ten months after of the play; | |
| And this is love as I hear say. | |
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| Meli. Yet what is love, good shepherd, sain? | |
| Fau. It is a sunshine mixed with rain; | |
| It is a tooth-ache, or like pain; | 15 |
| It is a game where none doth gain; | |
| The lass saith no, and would full fain; | |
| And this is love, as I hear sain. | |
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| Meli. Yet, shepherd, what is love, I pray? | |
| Fau. It is a yea, it is a nay, | 20 |
| A pretty kind of sporting fray; | |
| It is a thing will soon away; | |
| Then, nymphs, take ’vantage while ye may; | |
| And this is love, as I hear say. | |
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| Meli. Yet what is love, good shepherd, show? | 25 |
| Fau. A thing that creeps; it cannot go; | |
| A prize that passeth to and fro; | |
| A thing for one, a thing for moe; | |
| And he that proves shall find it so; | |
| And, shepherd, this is love, I trow. [S. W. R.] IGNOTO. | 30 |
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