Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. II. The Seventeenth Century: Ben Jonson to Dryden
William Browne (c. 1590c. 1645)Extracts from Britannias Pastorals: A Comparison
Book III. Song 2.
A
Where daily chants the sad-sweet nightingale,
Would count his herd, more bucks, more prickets, fawns
Rush from the copse and put him from his tale;
Or some way-faring man, when morning dawns,
Would tell the sweet notes in a joysome vale,
At every foot a new bird lights and sings,
And makes him leave to count their sonnettings.
Her several graces in immortal lines,
Plenty empoors her; every golden tress,
Each little dimple, every glance that shines
As radiant as Apollo, I confess
My skill too weak for so admired designs;
For whilst one beauty I am close about,
Millions do newly rise and put me out.