IV.

Within this woode, out of a rocke, did rise A spring of water, mildly rumbling downe, Wherto approched not in anie wise The homely shepherd nor the ruder clowne, But manie muses, and the nymphes withall, That sweetly in accord did tune their voyce To the soft sounding of the water’s fall, That my glad heart thereat did much reioyce. But, while herein I tooke my chiefe delight, I saw (alas!) the gaping earth devoure The spring, the place, and all cleane out of sight; Which yet aggrieves my hart even to this houre, And wounds my soul with ruefull memorie, To see such pleasures gon so suddenly.