Dulcina

1. As at noon Dulcina rested
In a sweet and shadȳ* bow’r,
Came a shepherd and requested
In her lap to sleep an ho͞u͞r.
But from her look
A wound he took
So deep that for a farther boon
The nymph he prayed,
Whereto she sa͞id:
‘Forgo me now, come to me soon!’

2. But in vain she did conjure him
For to leave her presence so,
Hāving a thousand means t’allure him,
And but ōne to let him go.
Where lips delight
And eyes invite,
And cheeks as fresh as rose in June
Persuade to stay,
What boots to say:
‘Forgo me now, come to me soon?’

3. Wȯrds whose hope might have enjo͟inèd
Him to let Dulcina sleep,
Could a man’s love have confinèd
Or a maid her promise keep?
No, for her wȧist
He held so fast,
As she was constant to her tune,
Though still she spake:
‘For Cupid’s sake
Forgo me now, come to me soon!’

4. He demands what time or leis̱ure
Can there be more fit than now?
She says night gives love that pleas̱ure
Which the day cannot allow.
‘The sun’s clear light
Shineth more bright,’
Quoth he, ‘more fairer than the moon.’
For her to praise
He loves; she says:
‘Forgo me now, come to me soon!’

5. But no promise nor persuasion
From his arms could purchase scope;
Who would sell the sweet possession
Of such beautȳ for a hope?
Or for the sight
Of ling’ring night
Forgo the jo͟ys of present noon,
Though ne’er so fair
Her promise were:
‘Forgo me now, come to me soon?’

6. How at last agreed these lovers?
She was fair, and he was young.
Tongue can tell what eye discovers:
Jo͟y in sin is never sung.
Did he relent
Or she consent
On the night or grant the noon?
Dulcina prays,
And to him says
‘Forgo me now, come to me soon!’

7. Day was spent and night approachèd,
Venus fair was lovers’ friend.
She entreated bright Apollo
That his steeds their race might end.
He could not say
This Goddess ‘nay’,
But granted love’s fair queen her boon.
The shepherd came
To his fair dame.
‘Forgo me now, come to me soon!’

8. When that bright Aurora blushèd,
Came the shepherd to his dear.
Prettȳ birds most sweetlȳ wȧrblèd,
And the noon approached near.
Yet still ‘Away!’
The nymph did say;
The shepherd he fell in a swoon.
At length she sa͞id:
‘Be not afraid,
Forgo me now, come to me soon!’

9. With grief of heart this shepherd hȧsted
Up the mountain to his flocks.
Then he took a reed and pipèd;
Th’echo sounded through the rocks.
Thus did he play,
And wish the day
Were spent, and night were come ere noon,
For silent night
Is love’s delight:
‘I’ll go to fair Dulcina soon.’

10. Beautȳ’s darling, fair Dulcina,
Like to Venus for her love,
Spent the day away in passion,
Mourning like the turtle dove.
Melodiouslȳ,
Notes low and high,
She wȧrblèd forth this doleful tune:
‘O come aga͞in,
Sweet shepherd swain,
Thou canst not be with me too soon!’

11. When as Thetis in her palace
Had received the prince of light,
Came in Coridon the shepherd
To his love and heart’s delight.
Then Pan did play,
The wood nymphs they
Did skip and dance to hear the tune.
Hymen did say
’Twas holiday:
‘Forgo me now, come to me soon!’

12. ‘Sweet,’ he sa͞id, ‘as I did promise,
I am now returned aga͞in.
Long delay you know breeds danger
And to lovers breedeth pain.’
The nymph sa͞id then:
‘Above all men
Still welcome, shepherd, morn and noon.’
The shepherd prays;
Dulcina says:
‘Shepherd, I doubt y’are come too soon.’

13. ‘Come you now to overthrow me?
Out alas, I am betrayed!
Dear, is this the love you show me,
To betray a sillȳ maid?
Help, help! ay me! I dare not speak,
I dare not cry, my heart will bre͞ak.
What, all alone? Nay, then I find
Men ate too strong for womenkind.’

14. ‘Out upon the wench that put me
To this plunge to be alone!
Yet she was no fool to shut me
Where I might be seen of none.
Hark, hark! ay me! what no͟ise is that?
O now I see it is my cat.
Come, Puss, I know thou wilt not tell;
If all be so, all shall be well.’

15. ‘O sillȳ fool, why doubt I telling,
When I doubted not to trust?
If my bellȳ fall a swelling,
There’s no help but out it must.
Ay me! the grief, ay me! the shame,
When I shall bear the common name!
Yet at the wȯrst of my disgrȧce,
I’m not the first, nor shall be last.’