art lost,
Since no sight could ever ease thee.

Phoebe sat
By a fount;
Sitting by a fount I spied her:
Sweet her touch,
Rare her voice:
Touch and voice what may distain you?
As she sung
I did sigh,
And by sighs whilst that I tried her,
O mine eyes!
You did lose
Her first sight whose want did pain you.

Phoebe's flocks,
White as wool:
Yet were Phoebe's locks more whiter.
Phoebe's eyes
Dovelike mild:
Dovelike eyes, both mild and cruel.
Montan swears,
In your lamps
He will die for to delight her.
Phoebe yield,
Or I die:
Shall true hearts be fancy's fuel?[1]

[Footnote 1: This poem was parodied by one of Lodge's contemporaries
under the title "Ronsard's Description of his Mistress" in allusion to
Lodge's habit of imitating foreign poets.]

Montanus had no sooner ended his sonnet, but Corydon with a low
courtesy rose up and went with his fellow, and shut their sheep in the
folds; and after returning to Aliena and Ganymede, conducted them home
weary to his poor cottage. By the way there was much good chat with
Montanus about his loves, he resolving Aliena that Phoebe was the
fairest shepherdess in all France, and that in his eye her beauty was
equal with the nymphs.

"But," quoth he, "as of all stones the diamond is most clearest, and
yet most hard for the lapidary to cut: as of all flowers the rose is
the fairest, and yet guarded with the sharpest prickles: so of all our
country lasses Phoebe is the brightest, but the most coy of all to
stoop unto desire. But let her take heed," quoth he, "I have heard of
Narcissus, who for his high disdain against Love, perished in the
folly of his own love."

With this they were at Corydon's cottage, where Montanus parted from
them, and they went in to rest. Aliena and Ganymede glad of so
contented a shelter, made merry with the poor swain; and though they
had but country fare and coarse lodging, yet their welcome was so
great, and their cares so little, that they counted their diet
delicate, and slept as soundly as if they had been in the court of
Torismond. The next morn they lay long in bed, as wearied with the
toil of unaccustomed travel; but as soon as they got up, Aliena
resolved there to set up her rest,[1] and by the help of Corydon
swept[2] a bargain with his landslord, and so became mistress of the
farm and the flock, herself putting on the