THE RIVAL SWAINS. Janet Little (later Richmond) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T126549 Little, Janet, 1759-1813. The Poetical Works of Janet Little, the Scotch Milkmaid. Air Printed by John & Peter Wilson 1792 pp. [202]-205.

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THE RIVAL SWAINS . WHILE o'er the plains stern winter bore the sway , And Sol from Capricorn diffus'd his ray , Nigh Bolton Gate , beneath a hawthorn shade , Two rural swains sad lamentations made : Each for an absent damsel seem'd to mourn , While throbbing breasts did sigh for sigh return . Young D — y's notes and T – 's fond praises prov'd , That D — h T — r was the maid belov'd . Says D – k , " O had I these sweet hours again , I've spent with her ; but ah ! I wish in vain . The nymph is fled ; to Manchester she's gone , Nor heeds my sighs , nor yet regards my moan : Her cruel aunts did contribute their aid , To banish from my sight the lovely maid . O little Cupid , choose two fatal darts , And with a vengeance , send them to their hearts ; May they endure the agonizing pain Of love , yet ever unbelov'd remain ; And , when far hence , by death they're doom'd to go , Then let their task be leading apes below . Young D — h was the fairest on the plain , Admir'd and lov'd by ev'ry wond'ring swain . Her charms exterior might a hero bind ; But ah ! the beauty that adorns her mind , To paint does far exceed my Muse's skill . To you , dear T – I'll now resign the quill . " Says T – , " On her the Graces seem to wait ; Her form , how fair ! enchanting is her gait . Her youthful charms , no tongue could e'er express ; Nor does her absence render them the less . The soft impression with me still remains ; I'm captive , yet I glory in my chains . With fond delight I retrospect the day , When we to E — n took our way , With hearts elate , to view the Scottish fair , Lov'd D — h sweeten'd all the pleasures there . Blest with her company upon the road , How charming seem'd each rugged path we trode ? Nor could the Scottish fair such charms display ; My darling reign'd the empress of the day . But ah ! reflection animates my pain , Such happy days I'll ne'er behold again . Alas ! I languish now in deep despair ; O that I could forget my absent fair ! " While these two youths rehearsed their plaintive tale , A third came stalking o'er a distant dale : R — n his name , whose anxious looks did show , His beating bosom much oppress'd with wo . Of J — y's charms , he in soft concert sung ; J — y the gay , the beauteous , and the young ; She who of late , with parson F — r stay'd , In the low station of a dairy-maid . Yet there it was she gain'd young R — n's heart , And in her absence nought can ease his smart . O hapless lads ! can nought allay your pain , Till these two charming maids return again ? Is there none else can ease your tortur'd mind ? None else so fair , so virtuous and so kind ? So may you think , and thus in sighs lament , Till Hymen's fetters make you all repent . Better bewail an absent love for life , Than be tormented by a fractious wife .