CHAP. IV. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 151 



lin does so. I'll bestow Sir Thomas Overbury's milk- 

 maid's wish upon her, " That she may die in the 

 " Spring ; and, being dead, may haye good store of 

 cc flowers stuck round about her winding-sheet*.' 1 



THE MILK-MAID'S MOTHER'S ANSWER, 



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, 

 Then Philomel becometh dumb ; 

 And age complains of care 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. 



The belt of straw, and ivy buds, 

 The coral clasps, and amber studs, 

 All these in me no means can move, 

 To come to thee, and be thy love. 



What should we talk of dainties, then, 

 Of better meat than's fit for men ? 

 These are but vain ; that's only good 

 Which God hath blest, and sent for food. 



But could youth last ; and, love still bread ; 

 Had joys no date ; nor, age no need ; 

 Then those delights my mind might move, 

 To live with thee, and be thy love, 



* Sir Thomas Overbury's Cbartcter of a fair and happy Milkmaid, printed 

 with his poem entitled Tbt Wife, in 12mo, 1655. 



K 



