Pastoral Poems (Breton); Selected Poetry (Wither); Pastoral Poetry (Browne)

by Nicholas Breton; George Wither; William Browne

Pastoral poems frontispiece

GEORGE WITHER
(1588–1667)
From the Portrait prefixed to Wither's "Emblems" (1635)

The Pembroke Booklets
(First Series)
III

Nicholas Breton
Pastoral Poems

George Wither
Selected Poetry

William Browne
(of Tavistock)
Pastoral Poetry

❦

J. R. Tutin
Hull
1906

Large Paper Edition, limited to 250 copies

Nicholas Breton
(1558–1626)

Thou that wouldst find the habit of true passion,
⁠And see a mind attired in perfect strains . . .
Look here on Breton's work.—Ben Jonson.

George Wither
(1588–1667)

The praises of poetry have been often sung in ancient and in modern times; strange powers have been ascribed to it of influence over animate and inanimate auditors; its force over fascinated crowds has been acknowledged; but before Wither, no one ever celebrated its power at home, the wealth and the strength which this divine gift confers upon its possessor. Fame, and that too after death, was all which hitherto the poets had promised themselves from this art. It seems to have been left to Wither to discover that poetry was a present possession, as well as a rich reversion, and that the Muse has a promise of both lives,—of this, and of that which was to come.—Charles Lamb.

William Browne
(1591–?1645)

⁠I feel an envious touch,
And tell thee Swain: that at thy fame I grutch,
Wishing the Art that makes this Poem shine,
And this thy Work (wert not thou wrongèd) mine.
⁠George Wither: To the Author
⁠[of Britannia s Pastorals].

Contents

		Page
Prefatory Note		5
Nicholas Breton
A Sweet Pastoral		7
Aglaia: a Pastoral		8
Phyllida and Corydon		10
Astrophel's Song of Phyllida and Corydon		11
A Pastoral of Phyllis and Corydon		13
Corydon's Supplication to Phyllis		14
A Report Song in a Dream, between a shepherd and his nymph		15
Another of the Same		16
A Shepherd's Dream		16
A Quarrel with Love		17
A Sweet Contention between Love, his Mistress, and Beauty		18
Love: "Foolish love is only folly"		20
"Those eyes that hold the hand of every heart"		20
Sonnet: "The worldly prince doth in his sceptre hold"		21
A Sweet Lullaby		22
George Wither
Prelude. From The Shepherd's Hunting		24
A Poet's Home. From Faire Virtue		27
Her Beauty. From Faire Virtue		29
Rhomboidal Dirge. From Faire Virtue		30
Song: "Lordly gallants!" From Faire Virtue		32
Song: "Shall I, wasting in despair." From Faire Virtue		36
"Amarillis I did woo." From Faire Virtue		37
Sonnet: On a Stolen Kiss		37
A Christmas Carol		38
A Rocking Hymn		40
The Marigold		43
Sonnet: On the Death of Prince Henry		43
From a Satire written to King James I.		44
William Browne
From "Britannia's Pastorals":—
	To England	45
	The Seasons	45
	May Day Customs
	Birds in May	46
	Music on the Thames	47
	A Concert of Birds	47
	Flowers	48
	Morning	48
	Night	49
	A Pleasant Grove	50
	An Angler	51
	A Rill	52
	"Glide soft, ye silver floods"	52
	"Venus by Adonis' side"	53
	A Song: "Gentle Nymphs"	54
Spring Morning, II. From The Shepherd's Pipe		54
Spring„ Morning,„ II. From The Shopherd's Pipe„		54
A Round		56
"Welcome, welcome, do I sing"		57
Autumn. From The Shepherd's Pipe		58
The Siren's Song. From Inner Temple Masque		59
The Charm. From Inner Temple Masque		59
Cælia: Five Sonnets—"Lo, I the man"		60
Cælia: Five Sonnets—"Why might I not for once"		60
Cælia: Five Sonnets—"Fairest, when by the rules"		61
Cælia: Five Sonnets—"Were't not for you"		61
Cælia: Five Sonnets—"Sing soft, ye pretty birds"		62
Visions: Four Sonnets—"I saw a silver swan"		62
Visions: Four Sonnets—"A Rose, as fair as ever"		62
Visions: Four Sonnets—"Down in a valley"		63
Visions: Four Sonnets—"A gentle Shepherd"		63
Epitaphs: In Obitum		64
Epitaphs: On the Countess Dowager of Pembroke		64