C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

The Shepherd’s Wife’s Song

From ‘The Mourning Garment’

AH, what is love? It is a pretty thing,

As sweet unto a shepherd as a king;

And sweeter too,

For kings have cares that wait upon a crown,

And cares can make the sweetest love to frown:

Ah then, ah then,

If country loves such sweet desires do gain,

What lady would not love a shepherd swain?

His flocks are folded, he comes home at night,

As merry as a king in his delight;

And merrier too,

For kings bethink them what the State require,

Where shepherds careless carol by the fire:

Ah then, ah then,

If country loves such sweet desires do gain,

What lady would not love a shepherd swain?

He kisseth first, then sits as blithe to eat

His cream and curds, as doth the king his meat;

And blither too,

For kings have often fears when they do sup,

Where shepherds dread no poison in their cup:

Ah then, ah then,

If country loves such sweet desires do gain,

What lady would not love a shepherd swain?

Upon his couch of straw he sleeps as sound

As doth the king upon his beds of down;

More sounder too,

For cares cause kings full oft their sleep to spill,

Where weary shepherds lie and snort their fill:

Ah then, ah then,

If country loves such sweet desires do gain,

What lady would not love a shepherd swain?

Thus with his wife he spends the year, as blithe

As doth the king at every tide or sith;

And blither too,

For kings have wars and broils to take in hand,

When shepherds laugh and love upon the land:

Ah then, ah then,

If country loves such sweet desires do gain,

What lady would not love a shepherd swain?