| |
| 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 string of crystal beads. | |
| See the heavy clouds low falling | |
| And bright Hesperus down calling | 10 |
| The dead night from underground; | |
| At whose rising, mists unsound, | |
| Damps and vapors, fly apace, | |
| And hover o’er the smiling 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; | |
| So shall you good shepherds prove, | |
| And deserve your master’s love. | |
| Now, good night! may sweetest slumbers | |
| And soft silence fall in numbers | 30 |
| On your eyelids. So farewell: | |
| Thus I end my evening knell. | |
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