Ah, what is love? It is a pretty thing, <br />As sweet unto a shepherd as a king, <br />And sweeter, too: <br />For kings have cares that wait upon a crown, <br />And cares can make the sweetest love to frown: <br />Ah then, ah then, <br />If country loves such sweet desires do gain, <br />What lady would not love a shepherd swain? <br /> <br />His flocks are folded; he comes home at night <br />As merry as a king in his delight, <br />And merrier, too: <br />For kings bethink them what the state require, <br />Where shepherds, careless, carol by the fire: <br /> <br />He kisseth first, then sits at blithe to eat <br />His cream and curds, as doth a king his meat, <br />And blither, too: <br />For kings have often fears when they do sup, <br />Where shepherds dread no poison in their cup: <br /> <br />To bed he goes, as wanton then, I ween, <br />As is a king in dalliance with a queen; <br />More wanton, too: <br />For kings have many griefs, affects to move, <br />Where shepherds have no greater grief than love: <br /> <br />Upon his couch of straw he sleeps as sound <br />As doth the king upon his bed of down; <br />More sounder, too: <br />For cares cause kings full oft their sleep to spill, <br />Where weary shepherds lie and snort their fill: <br /> <br />Thus, with his wife, he spends the year as blithe <br />As doth the king at every tide or sithe, <br />And blither, too: <br />For kings have wars and broils to take in hand, <br />Where shepherds laugh and love upon the land: <br />Ah then, ah then, <br />Since country loves such sweet desires do gain, <br />What lady would not love a shepherd swain?<br /><br />Robert Greene<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-shepherd-s-wife-s-song/
