PAPLET: OR, Love and Innocence. Thomas Purney 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. K099729.000 Purney, Thomas, 1695-ca. 1727. Pastorals: After the simple manner of Theocritus. By Mr. Purney. London printed for J. Brown, and R. Burleigh 1717 [1716] pp. []-35. 63,[1]p.; 8⁰.

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ARGUMENT .

C UBBIN , the Writer so call'd , was acquainted , with PAPLET and SOFLIN . All Young was PAPLET and ignorant of Love ; SOFLIN more experienc'd , but equally tender and innocent . The first eager to be let into the Nature and Manner of Lovers and the other SEX ; The other of a Temper particularly free and inclining . These , as CUBBIN was inform'd , were at Evening gone out to a BUSH of a sweet and pleasant Scituation to tattle of Love , and of COLLIKIN SOFLIN'S Lover . In pain is CUBBIN , least the gentle PAPLET should fall in Love with him too , and goes forth to skulk near the BUSH to hear if it indeed was so . There does the latter part of their Discourse , which alone he hears , confirm the hear-say . When the gloom of Night draws on , they go to bath and cool 'em in EDEN Brook . There is PAPLET solitary and musing ; and thence , ignorant of her Ail , returns alone , by Moonshine to the BUSH : For there COLLIKIN , that Morn , had loll'd with his LOVE . CUBBIN soon discovers her uneasiness ; forsakes hit Covert to attempt her relief ; But endeavouring to divert her thoughts from COLLIKIN , is chid from her sight . So being averse to her Cure , she falls intirely in Love .

The time , in this PIECE , is from Noon to Night ; The Season Summer ; and the Scene on the Banks of the Brook Eden ; which runs out of the Medway , some Miles West of TUNBRIDGE in Kent .

PAPLET : OR , Love and Innocence . PASTORAL the I. foreign Bion . 2.
A Gentle Swain yfed in Kentish Mead , Line 1. YFED . a , and y ( pronounc'd as e ) before Words , and en , et and ie , after , are for softness of sound . The gentlest Swain that ever Flock did feed . Soft he beside the Stream of EDEN lay , And graz'd abie the Banks of fair MEDWAY . Up with the Morn , as lith as Lark , he'd rise ; And Cubbin he , so said him Shepherd Boys . So as he sate , with LASS or toys the YOUTH ; Or soft he sooth's , for soft can Cubbin sooth . There sweetly oped each Flower the little Lip , Fresh Honey-dew and Evening Air to sip . Was , when his CADE he'd kiss , and pretty play : Cade . Or , Cade-Lamb . Or bath in Brook , then roll on tender Lea . Lea . Or , Green . Sooth ! would too RHIMES go make as loose he lay , ( Though God-wot , to make RHIMES small Wit had he . ) And wont out-scrawl and print 'em on the Sand , All as he lay along with Crook in Hand . Poor Pen , you'll say : — Ay and poor Poet too ! But 'lack , must do what Heaven will have Us do . Yet happy he , in time , found means to mark His witless Tattle on a MAPLE's BARK . But ah , how should he , poor Boy , 'ere find out , Lines near enough to deck his TREE about . Forc'd was he Swains o'rehear behind some balk , Then on his TREE go print the tender Talk . Late he abie a Place of Pleasure lay , All fairly deckt in Sweets of fairest MAY . Where silkie Thighs in Dew Grass-hoppers bath'd ; And merry cherruping , so rosie breath'd . Ye Surrey Swains ! and Surrey Swains have bliss ; I dare Ye show so soft a SHADE as this ! Atween the dewie Leaves as Air was blown , The dewie Leaves yquivered every one . The why he came here was all for two Maids , He thought , were chatting nigh , of Love and Lads . He came the one to warn , that Youngling-breast The less did know of Love , did love the less . Pity'd her the soft Swain : to warn he strove , Lest the young HEART might hap to fall in love . Foreby him sate these Maids in loose Array , As fair and fresh as Summer Eve might see . Sweet gay-green Flowers , so pretty put anear , The Pink and Pancet pretty put anear . Soflin and Paplet they ; ( ah dainty THEY ! ) That ripe as Rose , this a soft-aged MEY . Line 12. A soft-aged MEY . or MAI ; the D left out ; is here used for one younger than we commonly mean by the Word MAID , suppose a Lass of 13 or 14 Years old . Tho' Chaucer uses it indifferently , as it has not the vulgarness of Maid , and is of a sound particularly sweet and simple . Both lith as Youngling Roe , all-tender too As Ladybird that lives on twinkling Dew . Paplet , a CHRISTIAN's and a JEWES's Child , Line 3. Paplet , a Christian's , &c. She would have discover'd their Marriage , and occasion'd the JEWES's Death by their Laws . Scarce five Year old , was laid , to starve in Field ; For that the BABE' they could no longer hide : But all by hap an anciant SIRE it spy'd ; Just starving ; for the tender Teeth been broak , As twould crack Nutt : It smiled when up he took Oh sweet my Father reach that bough of HIPS ! What must I do , ah how I've scratch'd my Lips ! He tookt to's Cave ; and pull'd the Thorns all out Her pretty Feet ; they bled with walk about . There brought her up with Florey fresh his Son , Who hunts wild Beasts , 'tis what they live epon . Now sick if Sire or Son , she moans him meet , Soft tend's , with cheary Chat , and soothing sweet These gentle HEARTS small thought were Cubbin lay ; In sooth some halfendeal undeckt they be . Honey-lip Gales soft breathed on their Hair , Waved their Cloaths , and did their Bosoms bare And well Iwis , as bare their bosoms , all Line 7. And well Iwis , &c. The Words , WIS , WEET , and WEEN , all signify to think or imagin . The Flowerets out that decked 'em did fall . A Willow on the bank upheld their Heads , ( Oh happy Tree , to hold such lovely Maids ! ) A soothing shade the rosie Sweetbreer gave ; Where sang the Bird that sings so soft at Eve . i. e. The Nightingale . Believe Me now , thus show'd they ; by my fay As lovely show'd , as Lilly on the Lea ! But sure that Paplet was the tend'rest Lass ! Well ween I Cubbin lay at little Ease . So soft she seem'd ! By Heav'n seem'd more than soft ! Her Lip to touch he wish'd him , O how oft ! Now soothly Paplet was the tend'rest Mey ! Ah God ! I small ween'd could so tender be ! Some-deal her Paps been pufft , that sooth might seem The LITTLE LIFE now just of Love gan dream ? Now say me , Shepherds , who could help ha' strove , To save so sweet a HEART from pain of Love ? Love is a gentle pain , a pretty pain : He came to keep from loving Soltie's Swain . Soflin was fair as Morning DROP is fair , And Paplet tender as the Evening Air . When chatted they , so sweet their chatting were ! Oh I could hear , methought , for ever hear ! On FELLOW first , then TREE , they pretty loll , Quiver their little Lips , their Eyen roll . Sooth , ever and anon , as Soflin spoak , Paplet in extasie would hide her LOOK . Then asken more ; yet shamed to asken more , ( Of MEN and LOVE ) but long'd to know so sore . Sometimes she'd fling her self epon the Grass : Then up , and catch in Arms her Fellow-lass . Why may'nt we Men , yquoth the youngling MEY , And why may'nt we grasp them ? Us graspen they So pleased she was , and eager still to know , In sooth so pleased , she knew not what to do . But ill I say how sweet the Lasses sate , Oh that you'd seen 'em , , I'd give any what ! This sooth I say ( for sooth the Shepherds say ) Soft simpering thus said the YOUNGLING MEY . The meaning of the MEY no whit I ween . I'm sure , when near I came , just thus she sain .
Paplet . NOW much I marl : 'Tis pretty ; if tell Truth ! But say ; Ha , Ha ! Be HE so soft in sooth ? Soflin . My gentle MEY , he is of gentlest mood . Oh that he were my BROTHER ! sure I would Taken his Hand and tender lead him in , Whenso he to the distant Field had been . There pretty stroak his Hand , Ne have it said See Soflin there , O see ! A fawning Maid ! In his soft Bosom I my Hand would slip , And hang epon the sweetness of his Lip . Paplet . Don't , Soflin , don't ! how can'st talk so ? Lips sweet ; How meanest sweet ? How doen know be sweet ? Soflin . All as a-green I walk with Collikin , The lovely'st Lad that ever walk'd a-green . If be I'm fray'd by Flood , by Boar or Bull , He sooth's me soft , and calls me softest Soul . Be it not pretty ? b'lieve me , Pap , he doth ! And holds me 'neath his lilly Arm now sooth ! And sweet the Swain my Hand in his will nip , Then kiss me with the kisses of his Lip . So save me , SWEET , as truth I tell , when say ( Why tarest the Flow'rs so fierce , my pretty MEY ? ) But hear me , CHICK ! I seemen oft be fray , fray . Or , affraid . When I be not : But MAIDS should seem they say . Paplet . And so ; why but — and pretty'st be't then Maid , Be lip'd when frayed art ? I'll be afraid ! Soflin . Prettier ? Oh prettier , CHILD , than may be thought , You mayn't hug Men . if be you fearen nought : But sure , so sweet it is , so hug in Arms ! Skuttle to DEAR , and have him hide from harms ! Paplet . No more , but then ? Yet kind be Swains , you said ; How kind ? Mayn't kiss , Would kissing kill 'em , Maid ? But soft ! meseem'd — oh I'd have heard for nought Our simple Chat , for ours is simple Chat ! Soflin . Set still SWEET ! Wind might wag : Or LEVERIT rush , With Cock-up Ears : don't go ! or Bird from bush . Paplet . That Cubbinet I fear , for whom the MEYS Late joyn'd , and bought a PIPEIT ; all I guess To busy him , and keep from kissing so . The Swain that whispers us in Ear , you know , That he can sing , then snatches a quick kiss ; Sooth , as the Mey suspecteth nought amiss . Now the poor HEART's so pleased with his Pipe ! Fore GREAT ONES he can't hold , but lay'th to's lip . Soflin . I know the Swain , a tender Swain is he ! Fear him not Paplet , fear him not SWEET MEY . I know the Swain , Who sooths so soft as he ! Believe me Lass , he'll never harm SWEET MEY . Paplet . Oh , but he often skulks a-hind a balk , To hear the harmless Shepherdess in talk . Then tells the Chat to SPARKS at the great-Town , Who maken Mock at Speech of simple Clown . Ne strange , I trow ; for say me . SWEET , is't fit Ne . Or , Nor. Our weetless Tittletattle weren writ ? Unkindly Cubbinet ! untoward boy ! Else , by my fay ! he is a GENTLE BOY . Soflin . Sooth is he , but to kissing he's so given ! He'll kiss till he's odd , and then kiss to come even . He'll kiss at the Hedge , and he'll kiss at the Gate ; He'll kiss if the chattering Magpie but prate ! Paplet . But how must do if Swain should ere kiss me ? He'll put my Arms around him , didst not say : Oh ! — if to put my hands a-hind he goes : May strive pull 'way , and that will pull him close ! Soflin . Be sure look tender , when to lip he go : But , sooth if say , Thou canst not help look so . That dainty dimple in thy little Cheek , So soft thee show's , so modest , and so meek ! Paplet . Worst is , if ever YOUNGLING cast to lay My hand in's bosom , 'twill so pretty be , Not I know how , O I shan't help the fault , But blush , poor son ! how Soflie must I not ? So Paplet , softest Paplet , as she said , Her sweet-dew Lips on Soflies Bosom laid . Soflin . No help , I ween ; what will be , best let be . But bad in thee , my CHICK , more bad in me . Paplet . Yet STRIPLIN CHEEK look pretty so , meweet ; ( All as the Rose in bed of Lillys set . ) For Florrey late to the great-town ha' been ; But oh , when first me saw , how blush'd the Swain ! Cause why ; the sweetlip boy then cast to kiss ; Yet say me soft , be that so much amiss ? Soflin . If be but why , small harm ybe I weet . Colly and I late roved , Nuts to get . I witless was so bonny and so brag , ( Paplet beware not be with Love so wag ) I scratchen Chin ; ah luckless Lass the when ! See here but , Paplet ! I all scratch'd my Chin ! The Wound he wiped , and kist it 'ore and 'ore ; Why sooth now , Paplet , else 'twould been a sore . Whatso I could to bar my blush , I did ; Yet ween not whether somedeal look'd not red . But 'twas allfor his Eyes so soft did seem : While Honeybreath epon my Neck would steam . And oh , his ringlet-locks too , where they fell Tittled my breasts ! and I was 'shamed to tell . Paplet . Why 'shamed ? I would ha' stroak'd 'em off his Face : And sooth now so , had'st felt how soft it was ! Oh pleasant ! how you've lived ! Didest not tho' Out's Bosom take his LOCKS , when in did blow ? Do let me lye A-LEA with ye , now wo't ? For oft ye setten so , Lass , do ye not . Soflin . This Morn sweet sate we 'neath this sweet Maybough ; Ye Kentish Swains , no softer seat ye know ! The Flowers suck'd Honey-dew ( O dainty draught ! ) Soft for the Bees to sip that sip so soft . Under my head a hand fair laid the Boy ; Then sinking down yclosen sleepie Eye . Paplet . Ay ? say'st in sooth ? and then — why dost not say ? Was it not lovely , when so loose he lay ? Meseems I should ha' pleased with tender Tongue Or sooth'd , the while , with softness of a Song . So as she said ( and who so sweet can sain ) Her little Leg would in her Fellow's twine . Then dainty'd droppen Hand in Soflie Breast : Ah dainty Hand ! how Cubbin yearn'd to kiss't ! Soflin . Oh soft I lull'd him , soft as I could lull ; And in my Bosom put his Head to loll ! Sweet glow'd the while , his pretty rosie Cheek ; Smooth lay elong his Limbs , so slim and slieke . Fair fed I on the fairness of his Face ; O Paplet , didst but ween how pleasant 'twas ! Paplet . I've heard 'tis dainty lye along with Ene Ene . Or , One . We love ; say Soflie , be't so dainty then ? Soflin . Dainty ? Ay dainty more than heart may weet Don't look at me , Pap , and I'll tell thee what . I putten hand in's bosom now that be's , So silkie soft ! then gently gave't a kiss ! Soft simpering saiden this the lovely Maid . While Paplet 'tween her twey her hand fair had ; Who oft would turn and shift , as ill at ease : Cubbin did too to see't . Ah careful Case ! Paplet . Stay , Soflin , list ! Heard I not some one sneeze 'Twas 'mong the SEDGE ; fast by those murmuring Bees ! Soflin . Poor CHICK , how thou dost quake ! prethee leave quake . Sooth 'twas some Bird but chirp'd in th'bushie brake Paplet . Much Wonder give it me , my gentle DEAR ! Thou nought , ne any one , suspectest 'ere . Soflin . Why wouldst have fear ? I wonder why dost warn ! . When I have wrong'd , then I to fear will learn . Sure Soflin none will harm ; if Soflin none ; And well I ween , I never any one . But look , ah me ! how Flow'rs be blown out hair ; And bosom too ! — But LOVIE likes it bare . Paplet . Then do Lads like in sooth , or seemen they ? I've heard say , YOUNGLING SWAIN will harm YOUNG MEY . Yet Florrey looks so pretty and so pert , Nought I know how , fancy he could not hurt . And Collikin , O me ! but Collikin , Of all the Swains , for me — he is the Swain ! Soflin . O simple he's of Chear , and meek of Mein ; All-fine his Flesh , and sooth as soft his Skin ! So prettily his Words slip off his Tongue , With a little waggish Lisp emong ! But when he sooths too pleasant 'tis to bear ! He kisses , I ask if a rosie be near ! But see there ! Lallet's CADE ! how that came there ? Sure by the Lamb the Lassie should be near ! Oh ! Well beween'd ! We bath in Brook this Eve You see where SPRAYS so sweet a shadow give . You're one ; and Lallet Lass so heavenly hewn ; And Poppit maiden ripe as Rose in June . This Florey loves ; and Fauney fresh love that ; Cuddleit say some . Up Lass ! mayhap they wait .
THEY go : Their BOSOMS ope to th' Evening Air : And dip their blooming BEAUTYS fresh and fair : They pretty play and paddle in the Wet : And strow with fairest Flow'rs the Streamulet But Paplet wistful was ; On bank she set , Siping the Honeysukles juicie SWEET . But ah , her mind elsewhere ! alass on love ! Oh Soflin , thou hast wrong'd a tender DOVE ! When parted All ; and All hied home ; she made As if she too ; but silent by Moonshade , Stale back to th' BUSH ; with hands in bosom laid , ( Those hands all fair as flower ) and hanging head . Mayhap ( soft said she ) now HE goes to Bed . I wonder how HE lyes when there he's laid ! Besure HE mind's not me when 'mong the Swains . O could I touch HIM but , just touch meseems ! Yet looked she at Moonshine on the Stream ; That twinkled fair , and strove not think on him . Mused too on th' varying FIGURES made on Grass , By th' Light , that 'tween the waving Trees did pass . Where fancyeth she depainten this and that , ( But all of Love ) atill to th' BUSH did get . There blush'd when first it saw to think that she Should so steal back to th' place where Colly lay . And am I then ? And am I grown , she sain , ( With that gan pretty finger put in Eyen ) . So sly and false ? Oh Heav'n ! don't see ! or do , Forgive ! — small weeneth Soflin where I now . So saying on the bank adown she laid . Just where the Swainet lean'd , as Soflin said . Then , smiling , thus : MAYHAP his head was put Where mine is now : Who knows ? O happy ROOT ! This gentle Cubbinet did see and hear , Waiting abie , the pretty HEART to chear . He went to sooth her soft , and warn her how She thought on Collikin . All would not do . Soon as she saw , she started from her seat : Ne would she hear him Pipe , ne talk awhit . So that he made as if went strait away ; But went no farther then afore he lay . The dainty-limbed Lass , as soft to see , As springing Flowrets in the Month of May , Smooth laid her slender Features down again , All on the sweetness of the Flowrie Plain . Ah gentle HEART ! ah HEART of prettiness ! Where is the Dalliance , and the tender Kiss ? Then sigh'd out this the rosie-liped Lass , Soft as her Eye on Heaven yfixen was . WHAT aileth , O what aileth thee , my Heart ; Now sooth meseem's thou be'st not as thou wer't . Be Collikin ( ah would he other was ! ) Far fairer than the fairest Lad or Lass , Yet what have I to do with Collikin ? Let me not be , e're be for Soflie's Pain ! Tho' , methinks , were he not her's , I could well Wish he were mine , Oh me , how wish him well ! Thus sate the YOUNGLING MEY , till far the Night Was spent , and sooth the Moon nigh lost her light . Then up gan rise ; but 'ere she 'gan up rise , Tuck'd up her Hair , and wiped her dewie Eyes . The SOFTHEART SWAIN ( for Swainets all are so ) Staid till he wept , and when he wept did go . Unhappy Soflin ! Now there love's with thee , The sweetest Mey that ever Sun did see . All he had seen or heard , in head kept he , To cut on Crook , or mark upon his Tree . For sure there is not who can envy that ; Not one , I ween , can envy LASSE's CHAT . But why so fond of LASSES CHAT , say you . Oh , had you seen 'em , you'd ha' been so too ! Ye gentle YOUTHS ! who rove where led by chance If be on Paplet's grief your Eye should glance , Think the poor Lass mishap enough has had ; Ah don't you add , by hating what she said ! Ween , if ye maken mock at it , ye make At Paplet mock ; don't so , for Pappie's sake !
End of the first Pastoral .