Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne

Elizabethan Miscellanies

From England’s Helicon: To Colin Clout (Shepherd Tonie)

BEAUTY sat bathing by a spring,

Where fairest shades did hide her,

The winds blew calm, the birds did sing,

The cool streams ran beside her.

My wanton thoughts entic’d mine eye

To see what was forbidden:

But better memory said, fie,

So vain desire was chidden.

Hey nonnie, nonnie, &c.

Into a slumber then I fell,

When fond imagination

Seemed to see, but could not tell

Her feature or her fashion.

But even as babes in dreams do smile

And sometimes fall a weeping,

So I awaked, as wise this while,

As when I fell a sleeping.

Hey nonnie, nonnie, &c.