XII. Harpalus. AN ANCIENT ENGLISH PASTORAL. ..........................................
This beautiful poem, which is perhaps the first attempt at pastoral writing in
our language, is preserved among the "Songs and Sonnettes" of the Earl of Surrey,
&c. 4to. in that part of the collection, which consists of pieces by "uncertain
auctours." These poems were first published in 1557, ten years after that
accomplished nobleman fell a victim to the tyranny of Henry VIII.: but it is presumed
most of them were composed before the death of Sir Thomas Wyatt in 1541.-- See
Surrey's Poems, 4to. folios 19, 49.
Though written perhaps near half a century before the "Shepherd's
Calendar,"[1] this will be found far superior to any of those eclogues, in natural
unaffected simplicity of style, in easy flow of versification, and all other beauties of
pastoral poetry. Spenser ought to have profited snore by so excellent a model.
PHYLIDA was a faire mayde,
As fresh as any flowre;
Whom Harpalus the herdeman prayed
To be his paramour.
Harpalus, and eke Corin,
Were herdmen both yfere:
And Phylida could twist and spinne,
And thereto sing full clere.
But Phylida was all tò coye,
For Harpalus to winne:
For Corin was her onely joye,
Who forst her not a pinne.
How often would she flowers twine?
How often garlandes make
Of couslips and of colombine?
And al for Corin's sake.
But Corin, he had haukes to lure,
And forced more the field:
Of lovers lawe he toke no cure;
For once he was begilde.
Harpalus prevailed nought,
His labour all was lost;
For he was fardest from her thought,
And yet he loved her most.
Therefore waxt he both pale and loane,
And dry as clot of clay:
His fleshe it was consumed cleane,
His colour gone away.
His beard it had not long be shave;
His heare hong all unkempt: