Poem by Alexander Brome

The Pastoral

On the Kings Death. Written in 1648.

1.

WHere Englands Damon us'd to keep,
In peace and awe, his flocks
Who fed, not fed upon, his sheep,
There Wolves and Tygres now do ▪prey,
There Sheep are slain, and Goats do sway,
There raigns the subtle Fox
While the poor Lamkins weep.

2.

The Laurell'd garland which before
Circled his brows about,
The spotless coat which once he wore,
The sheep-hook which he us'd to sway,
And pipe whereon he lov'd to play,
Are seiz'd on by the rout,
And must be us'd no more.
Poor Swain, how thou lament'st to see
Thy flocks o're-rul'd by those
That serve thy Cattle all like thee:
Where hateful vice usurps the Crown,
And Loyalty is trodden down;
Down skrip and sheep-hook goes,
When Foxes Shepherds be.

1. To his Mistress (LAdy you'l wonder when you see)
2. The Damosel
3. On the Kings Return
4. Plain Dealing
5. The Wary Woer

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