Songs of Shepherds, and rustical Roundelays’

Song Meaning

The lyrics present a contrast between simple, pastoral music and grander aspirations. Initially, the narrator dismisses "Songs of Shepherds" and "whistled on Reeds" as "too unworthy for wonderful deeds." This sets up a clear hierarchy, valuing grander actions over rustic amusements. The tone is dismissive, suggesting these simple songs are only fit for "young Nymphs upon Holidays." The central tension arises from the description of the "hornéd" figures swarming Lucinda. These figures, seemingly shepherds or rural entities, inform her of a divine desire. The contrast here is striking: the very entities whose songs were just deemed unworthy are now involved in a significant, almost mythic event. The craft lies in the juxtaposition of the mundane and the divine. The language shifts from the quaint "rustical Roundelays" to the more elevated "God and Goddess." This elevation of pastoral figures to divine status, and their desire to "take human Bodies / As Lords and Ladies to follow the Hare," creates an unexpected twist. It suggests that even the seemingly simple can harbor grand, even Olympian, ambitions. This lyrical choice is effective because it subverts expectations. The initial dismissal of rustic songs is undercut by the revelation that these figures are central to a divine plot. It makes the reader reconsider the perceived worth of the "unworthy," hinting at hidden depths and desires within the pastoral world. The imagery of gods descending to hunt elevates the humble roundelay to a stage for mythic action.