This is an excerpt from something called "Montanus Sonnet" by S.E.D, included in England's Helicon, an anthology first published in 1600. A number of the poems in this collection are very funny and mopey and sentimental and beautiful, all at the same time.

When the dogge

Full of rage

With his irefull eyes

Frownes amidst the skies:

The Sheepheard to asswage

The furie of the heate,

Him self dooth safely seat

By a Fount

Full of faire,

Where a gentle breath

Mounting from beneath,

tempereth the ayre.

I suppose the "dogge" is supposed to be the sun. But I do rather enjoy imagining a giant cranky dog in the sky. It would be interesting to teach this excerpt and see what students make of that image.

England's Helicon has some silly poems, but it also includes one of my favorite poems of all time:

The passionate Sheepheard to his love

Christopher Marlowe

Come live with mee, and be my love,

And we will all the pleasures prove,

That Vallies, groves, hills and fieldes,

Woods, or steeple mountaine yeeldes.

And wee will sit upon the Rocks,

Seeing the Sheepheards feede theyre flocks,

By shallow Rivers, to whose falls,

Melodious byrds sing Madrigalls.

And I will make thee beds of Roses,

And a thousand fragrant poesies,

A cap of flowers and a kirtle,

Imbroydred all with leaves of Mirtle.

A gowne made of the finest wooll,

Which from our pretty Lambes we pull,

Fayre lined slippers for the cold:

With buckles of the purest gold.

A belt of straw, and Ivie buds,

With Corall clasps and Amber studs,

And if these pleasures may thee move,

Come live with mee, and be my love.

The Sheepheards Swaines shall daunce & sing,

For thy delight each May-morning,

If these delights thy minde may move;

Then live with mee, and be my love.