Arcadia. Sir Philip Sidney
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went, they stayed, or rightly for to say,
she stayed in them, they went in thought with her.
Claius indeed would fain have pulled away
this mote from out his eye, this inward burr,
and now, proud rebel, gan for to gainsay
the lesson which but late he learned too far,
meaning with absence to refresh the thought
to which her presence such a fever brought.
Strephon did leap with joy and jollity
thinking it just more therein to delight
than in good dog, fair field, or shading tree.
So have I seen trim books, in velvet dight
with golden leaves and painted babery93
of silly boys, please unacquainted sight,
but when the rod began to play its part,
fain would, but could not, fly from golden smart.
He quickly learned Urania was her name,
and straight for failing graved it in his heart.
He knew her haunt and haunted in the same
and taught his sheep her sheep in food to thwart,
which soon as it did bateful94 question frame,
he might on knees confess his faulty part
and yield himself unto her punishment,
while nought but game the self-hurt wanton meant.
Nay even to her home he oft would go,
where, bold and hurtless, many plays he tries—
her parents liking well it should be so,
for simple goodness shinèd in his eyes.
There did he make her laugh in spite of woe,
so as good thoughts of him in all arise,
while into none doubt of his love did sink,
for not himself to be in love did think.95
But glad desire, his late embosomed guest,
yet but a babe, with milk of sight he nursed.
Desire, the more he sucked, more sought the breast,
as dropsy folk still drink and are athirst,
till one fair evening, an hour ere sun did rest
(who then in lion’s cave did enter first)96,
by neighbors praised she went abroad thereby,
at Barley-Break97 her sweet swift foot to try.
Never the earth on his round shoulders bare
a maid trained up from high or low degree
that in her doings better could compare
mirth with respect, few words with courtesy,
a careless comeliness with comely care,
self-guard with mildness, sport with majesty—
which made her yield to deck this shepherd’s band,
and still, believe me, Strephon was at hand.
A-field they go, where many lookers be,
and you, seek-sorrow Claius, them among.
Indeed you said it was your friend to see—
Strephon, whose absence seemed unto thee long.
While most with her, he less did keep with thee.
No, no, it was in spite of wisdom’s song,
which absence wished. Love played a victor’s part:
The heaven-love lodestone drew thy iron heart.
The Rules and Moral of Barley-Break
Then couples three be straight allotted there;
they of both ends the middle two do fly.
The two that in mid place (“hell” callèd were)
must strive with waiting foot and watching eye
to catch of them, and them to hell to bear
that they, as well as they, hell may supply,
like some which seek to salve their blotted name
with others’ blot, till all do taste of shame.
There may you see, soon as the middle two
do (coupled) towards either couple make,
the false and fearful do their hands undo,
brother his brother, friend doth his friend forsake,
heeding himself—cares not how fellow do,
but of a stranger mutual help doth take,
as perjured cowards in adversity
with sight of fear from friends to fremd98 do fly.
First Round
Geron & Cosma Nous & Pas Urania & Strephon
These sports shephérds devised such faults to show.
Geron, though old, yet gamesome kept one end
with Cosma, for whose love Pas passed in woe.
Fair Nous with Pas the lot to hell did send.
Pas thought it hell, while he was Cosma fro.99
At other end, Urán did Strephon lend
her happy-making hand, of whom one look
from Nous and Cosma all their beauty took.
The play began: Pas dared not Cosma chase,
but did intend next bout with her to meet,
so he with Nous to Geron turned their race,
with whom to join fast ran Urania sweet.100
But light-legged Pas had got the middle space.
Geron strove hard, but agèd were his feet,
and therefore, finding force now faint to be,
he thought grey hairs afforded subtlety.
And so when Pas hand-reachèd him to take,
the fox on knees and elbows tumbled down.
Pas could not stay, but over him did rake
and crowned the earth with his first-touching crown.
His heels grown proud did seem at heaven to shake,
but Nous, who slipped from Pas, did catch the clown.101
So laughing all, yet Pas to ease some dell,
Geron and Uran were condemned to hell.
Second Round
Cosma & Strephon Geron & Urania Pas & Nous
Cosma this while to Strephon safely came,
and all to second Barley-Break are bent.
The two in hell did toward Cosma frame,
who should to Pas, but they would her prevent.
Pas, mad with fall, and madder with the shame,
most mad from beams that he thought Cosma sent,
with such mad haste he did to Cosma go,
that