1600 

                       THE NYMPH'S REPLY TO THE SHEPHERD

                             by Sir Walter Raleigh








şiElectronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
DAK Upgraded Edition, Copyright 2000, DAK Industries 2000, Inc(R)şI

{NYMPHS_REPLY_TO_THE_SHEPHERD
THE NYMPH'S REPLY TO THE SHEPHERD
-
     IF all the world and love were young,
     And truth in every shepherd's tongue,
     These pretty pleasures might me move
     To live with thee and be thy Love.
-
     But Time drives flocks from field to fold;
     When rivers rage and rocks grow cold;
     And Philomel becometh dumb;
     The rest complains of cares to come.
-
     The flowers do fade, and wanton fields
     To wayward Winter reckoning yields:
     A honey tongue, a heart of gall,
     Is fancy's spring, but sorrow's fall.
-
     Thy gowns, thy shoes, thy beds of roses,
     Thy cap, thy kirtle, and thy posies,
     Soon break, soon wither- soon forgotten,
     In folly ripe, in reason rotten.
-
     Thy belt of straw and ivy-buds,
                                     {NYMPHS_REPLY_TO_THE_SHEPHERD ^line 20}
     Thy coral clasps and amber studs,-
     All these in me no means can move
     To come to thee and be thy Love.
-
     But could youth last, and love still breed,
     Had joys no date, nor age no need,
     Then these delights my mind might move
     To live with thee and be thy Love.
-
  (See also THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD TO HIS LOVE by Christopher
   Marlowe.)
-
-
                    THE END