| |
| ONE night, I did attend my sheep, | |
| Which I, with watchful ward, did keep | |
| For fear of wolves assaulting: | |
| For, many times, they broke my sleep, | |
| And would into the cottage creep, | 5 |
| Till I sent them out halting! | |
| |
| At length, methought, about midnight, | |
| (What time clear CYNTHIA shineth bright) | |
| Beneath, I heard a rumbling! | |
| At first, the noise did me affright; | 10 |
| But nought appearèd in my sight, | |
| Yet still heard something tumbling. | |
| |
| At length, good heart I took to rise, | |
| And then myself crossed three times thrice; | |
| Hence, a sharp sheephook raught | 15 |
| I feared the wolf had got a prize; | |
| Yet how he might, could not devise! | |
| I, for his entrance sought. | |
| |
| At length, by moonlight, could I espy | |
| A little boy did naked lie | 20 |
| Frettished, amongst the flock: | |
| I, him approachèd somewhat nigh. | |
| He groaned, as he were like to die; | |
| But falsely did me mock! | |
| |
| For pity, he cried, “Well a day! | 25 |
| Good master, help me, if you may! | |
| For I am almost starved!” | |
| I pitied him, when he did pray; | |
| And brought him to my couch of hay. | |
| But guess as I was served! | 30 |
| |
| He bare about him a long dart, | |
| Well gilded with fine painter’s art; | |
| And had a pile of steel. | |
| On it I lookèd every part: | |
| Said I, “Will this pile wound a heart?” | 35 |
| “Touch it!” quoth he, “and feel!” | |
| |
| With that, I touched the javelin’s point! | |
| Eftsoons it piercèd to the joint! | |
| And rageth now so fierce, | |
| That all the balms which it anoint | 40 |
| Cannot prevail with it, a point; | |
| But it mine heart will pierce. | |
| |
