A silly shepherd lately sat <br />Among a flock of sheep; <br />Where musing long on this and that, <br />At last he fell asleep. <br />And in the slumber as he lay, <br />He gave a piteous groan; <br />He thought his sheep were run away, <br />And he was left alone. <br />He whoop'd, he whistled, and he call'd, <br />But not a sheep came near him; <br />Which made the shepherd sore appall'd <br />To see that none would hear him. <br />But as the swain amazèd stood, <br />In this most solemn vein, <br />Came Phyllida forth of the wood, <br />And stood before the swain. <br />Whom when the shepherd did behold <br />He straight began to weep, <br />And at the heart he grew a-cold, <br />To think upon his sheep. <br />For well he knew, where came the queen, <br />The shepherd durst not stay: <br />And where that he durst not be seen, <br />The sheep must needs away. <br />To ask her if she saw his flock, <br />Might happen patience move, <br />And have an answer with a mock, <br />That such demanders prove. <br />Yet for because he saw her come <br />Alone out of the wood, <br />He thought he would not stand as dumb, <br />When speech might do him good; <br />And therefore falling on his knees, <br />To ask but for his sheep, <br />He did awake, and so did leese <br />The honour of his sleep.<br /><br />Nicholas Breton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-shepherd-s-dream/