Her skin as soft as Lemster wool, {94a}
And white as snow on Peakish hull, {94b}
Or swan that swims in Trent.

This maiden, in a morn betime,
Went forth, when May was in the prime,
To get sweet setiwall, {94c}
The honeysuckle, the harlock, {94d}
The lily and the lady-smock, {94k}
To deck her summer-hall. {94e}

Thus, as she wandered here and there,
And picked of the bloomy brere,
She chanced to espy
A shepherd sitting on a bank,
Like chanticleer he crowed crank, {94f}
And piped full merrily.

He learned his sheep as he him list, {94g}
When he would whistle in his fist,
To feed about him round,
Whilst he full many a carol sang,
Until the fields and meadows rang,
And that the woods did sound.

In favour this same shepherd swain
Was like the bedlam Tamburlaine
Which held proud kings in awe.
But meek as any lamb mought be,
And innocent of ill as he