SHEPHERDS all, and maidens fair, | |
| Fold your flocks up, for the air | |
| ’Gins to thicken, and the sun | |
| Already his great course hath run. | |
| See the dew-drops how they kiss | 5 |
| Every little flower that is, | |
| Hanging on their velvet heads, | |
| Like a rope of crystal beads: | |
| See the heavy clouds low falling, | |
| And bright Hesperus down calling | 10 |
| The dead Night from under ground; | |
| At whose rising mists unsound, | |
| Damps and vapours fly apace | |
| Hovering o’er the wanton face | |
| Of these pastures, where they come, | 15 |
| Striking dead both bud and bloom: | |
| Therefore, from such danger lock | |
| Every one his lovèd flock; | |
| And let your dogs lie loose without, | |
| Lest the wolf come as a scout | 20 |
| From the mountain, and ere day, | |
| Bear a lamb or kid away; | |
| Or the crafty thievish fox | |
| Break upon your simple flocks. | |
| To secure yourself from these, | 25 |
| Be not too secure in ease; | |
| Let one eye his watches keep, | |
| Whilst the t’other eye doth sleep; | |
| So you shall good shepherds prove, | |
| And forever hold the love | 30 |
| Of our great god. Sweetest slumbers, | |
| And soft silence, fall in numbers | |
| On your eye-lids! So, farewell! | |
| Thus I end my evening’s knell! | |
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