Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne
Sir Edward Dyer (1543–1607)To Phillis the Fair Shepherdess
M
At first to look upon her:
And Phillis hath morn-waking birds,
Her rising still to honour.
My Phillis hath prime feathered flowers,
That smile when she treads on them:
And Phillis hath a gallant flock
That leaps since she doth own them.
But Phillis hath too hard a heart,
Alas, that she should have it!
It yields no mercy to desert
Nor grace to those that crave it.
Sweet Sun, when thou look’st on,
Pray her regard my moan!
Sweet birds when you sing to her
To yield some pity woo her!
Sweet flowers that she treads on,
Tell her, her beauty dreads one.
And if in life her love she nill agree me,
Pray her before I die, she will come see me.