1 FAuney and Lallet, this as fair
2 As Flower, that fresh as Evening Air;
3 One HOLY-MORNING had in head,
4 To trip to Lynheath roie Mead.
5 He one hand laid in Bosom bare:
6 Her Cloaths fast fluttered in Air.
[Page 40]7 Sang he and whistled ore the SWEARD:[*][*] Sweard. Or, Grassplatt.
8 She limber leap'd, as blith as Bird.
9 O dainty Violet! said he,
10 Simp'ring, and stooping on the LEA,
11 Thee little Lass, ah happy thee!
12 Adown her Bosom letten be.
13 Then, for he'd give a MEY the Flower,
14 The Stripling kist it o're and o're.
15 Lallet was meek and sweet of Mein;
16 Tender as Evening Air ybeen.
17 Soothly, a-frosty Morns she'll set
18 Her WINDOW ope, and much of Meat:
19 Then, oh how she will cherrup fair,
20 The gentle BIRDS out eager Air.
[Page 1]21 Thus merry the two triped it:
22 I can but smile to think how sweet!
23 Strait Fauney step'd afore, to see
24 The where the softest Seat might be.
25 Abie Lin-heath yspread's a BOUGH,
26 The sweetest sure the Bee doth know.
27 There use the Shepherds fresh yfare,
28 To bay their Bosoms in cool Air;
29 And sip the Dew off SWEET-BREER ROSE:
30 There often Cubbinet too goes.
31 Now, sweet the Swain here lay at ease;
32 Waiting the Lilly-footen Lass.
33 She, slim-made PRETTY ONE, her hied
34 Over the Green, as brisk as Bride.
[Page 42]35 Her fine Dew-laping VEST, with Care,
36 One Hand did hold; one Flowerets fair
37 A-bosom put, soft Paps emong,
38 As soft, as Drop on Hawthorn hung.
39 The Shepherd saw her far away;
40 And sweet she sliggar'd by my Fay!
41 Then simpering said, as came anigh;
42 Oh what a merry Lass am I!
43 He'll pick 'em all out, when doth see,
44 While I with's RINGLET HAIR may play!
45 He'll say I'm sweeter, pick each Flower;
46 So I shall play amost an Hour!
47 Well was it ween'd now by my Fay;
48 O what a merry Lass am I!
49 But she off Fauney was so far,
50 That he no whit of this might hear.
[Page 43]51 Now they're together set so sweet,
52 How shall I say how soft and sweet!
53 The Swainet ope's his BREAST to th' Air;
54 And calls his Love to fan it fair.
55 Then for her Pains her Lip soft smack's,
56 And right's and smooth's her HONEY-LOCKS.
57 Sooth, now the Lass gan like a Kiss;
58 But claps her dimple Cheek to his,
59 And whisper's soft, MUCH Marl I how,
60 Fauney, thou can'st love kissing so.
61 Thus lovely lay the gentle PAIR,
62 Soft as the Mid-day Gossamer:
63 Strait Lallet rises, and will hie
64 To gather STRAWBERRYS abie.
65 I prethee, said she, smiling sweet,
66 Stay here, and here I'll see thee strait.
[Page 44]67 She goes: The Shepherd ill can brook,
68 To lose the Pleasance of her LOOK.
69 But rose anon; and Flowers gan pick,
70 Aside a Spring, her Breast to deck.
71 Then down agen sate on the SOFT;
72 And look'd for Lallet oft and oft.
73 O me! How fine a Flower is this;
74 Sooth she shan't ha't without a Kiss!
75 Elig'ring he said; and pleas'd himself,
76 That he should please his darling ELF.
77 Thus long he sate; still wondring why
78 She came not; but she then was by;
79 The Lass stood by; stood 'hind a BOUGH;
80 Laughing, to think what he would do,
81 When found the came not. Now, she sain,
82 Had I the Heart to give him Pain!
[Page 45]83 Emey I've heard say, I know not,
84 Love dearer be the dearer bought.
85 A little whit howe're I'll wait;
86 'Twill pain him but a little whit.
87 The gentle Shepherd easeless was;
88 Turning and shifting on the GRASS.
89 When Paplet saw he, YOUNGLING-LASS,
90 Soft of Heart and fair of Face.
91 Full far away he saw, and ran
92 To know if Lallet she had seen;
93 And walk'd awith her, grieved sore,
94 Till his own DEAR could see no more.
95 When Lallet saw, a-thro' her BOUGH,
96 The fair-framed he to Paplet go;
97 Ah God, how yearn'd the harmless Heart!
98 How griev'd, that she should give him smart!
[Page 46]99 But when he out of sight did go,
100 Alass, she knew not what to do.
101 For shamed after him to run,
102 Thinking he now was angry grown.
103 With pretty carefulness in Face,
104 Walk'd, ne knew where, the dainty Lass.
105 Nought minding now her little CADE;
106 Though't stop't her, as afore her plaid.
107 Ne when she made Mouth bleed with kick,
108 Left it, but soft her Footen lick.
109 Poor FOOL! It stay her would, tho' whip'd;
110 Mayseem it lack'd so sore be lip'd.
111 For't used lye in LAP elong,
112 And touch her Bosom with the Tongue.
113 Thus rov'd the dainty-leged Lass,
114 All till the EVE drew on apace.
[Page 47]115 Then down she laid her Limbs so sliek;
116 And to the cold Ground clap'd her Cheek.
117 Oh I hard Heart! I worse than Wolf!
118 (Then said) to pain so gentle ELF!
119 Ah how could I, how could I tho'
120 Go harm poor HEART? He work'd no Wo! —
121 But here do let me stop, for why,
122 I want to wipe my tearie Eye.
Scene 2. A GRASS-PLAT half enclosed by a Streamulet.
123 The Swain so soft (for soft be Swains)
124 Who pipes so pretty on the Plains;
125 I need'nt tell ye who he is,
126 The Lasses know him by his KISS.
127 At Eve did come, with YOUNGLING MEY.
128 A-to the Grove where Lallet lay.
[Page 48]129 The why he hither came was this;
130 Paplet he won to take a Kiss:
131 I'll have, quoth she, a SONG for th' Kiss;
132 Thou sha't, quoth he, and one for this.
133 So here they came, as did befall,
134 To sing elong with NIGHTINGALE.
135 Here Violets ypicketh he,
136 To deck the bosom of the MEY.
137 When lo! he hear's a murmuring tone;
138 May seem some Young Lass made her moan.
139 Never will I, full well ywis,
140 Give pain agen! I've paid for this.
141 Oh, if he leaven love, ah god!
142 How shall I name a thing so bad?
143 Oh, if he leave to love farewell,
144 Farewell for ever, ought but Ill!
[Page 49]145 Heav'd the Swain's Breast for pity oft,
146 Unhappy Swain to be so soft!
147 Ached his Heart, to hear her smart,
148 Unhappy Swain to have such Heart!
149 Ynethered he creeps anear,
150 Still as a Spirit or as Air.
151 But could not well tell where she lay,
152 'Mongst many a Breer and many a Tree,
153 Which dusk'd in GLOOM Moon's waining Ray;
154 Ah Lallet, how there can'st thou lay!
155 A Stream half closed a Plat of Grass;
156 And made a sweet a pleasant Place.
157 Here (woe-the-worse!) as nigh drew he,
158 He saw what made him sad to see.
159 A gentle Lass a-neath a BOUGH:
160 Should gentle Lass be laid so low?
[Page 50]161 Twey Lips she had, now sooth I say,
162 Like CHERRIES, and as soft as they.
163 A dainty Blush on Cheek was too,
164 The prettiest Blush, no MEYS blush so.
165 The harmless Shepherd to her sped,
166 And took in Arms the harmless Maid.
167 But oh! when took in Arms the Lass,
168 Witness me God, how wo he was!
169 And is it then? and is't quoth he,
170 Lallet, the gentle Lall I see?
171 The dainty Daughter of the GLEN?
172 Help me, ye Heavens, to speak my Pain!
173 He stroak'd her Locks, all wet with Mist,
174 Out Bosom, then her Bosom kist.
[Page 51]175 Why sooth 'twas soft, as Bird in Bush,
176 He kist so soft, and bad not blush.
177 Ysoothing breath'd the sweet-lip'd Air
178 On pretty Paps, and waved her Hair.
179 In VEST her Face she wimpled.
180 On tender Bosom hung the Head.
181 Tell me, ye gentle STRIPLINGS tell!
182 If suiten Lass so lovely wail?
183 O tell me! should she, ay or on,
184 Letten the Air her VEST yblow?
185 Her slender VEST the Air so blew,
186 That might see lilly Limbs athro'.
187 Cubbin was griev'd, ye can't think how,
188 To see her soil her Beauty so.
189 Her Beauty fresh gan Bloom, and 'ope
190 Its bashful Bosom to th' DEW-DROP.
[Page 52]191 Her pretty Paps, like clustring Grapes,
192 A-thro' her VEST soft show'd their Shapes.
193 Then did the Swain, so fair and fine,
194 Ywipe her Tears out pretty Eyen.
195 Set her more soft, and soothing sweet,
196 Ask'd her how could so fair CHEEKS wet?
197 He chears; but ah! she will no chear;
198 Down drops her Head on Bosom bare.
199 Chiding the gentle NIGHTINGALE,
200 That sang so soft its softest Tale.
201 Then Paplet ask'd het this and that;
202 Who gave her grieve? Why so she sate?
203 The sloe-eyed SWEET ONE noted none;
204 But looked at the waining Moon.
[Page 53]205 Tho' little SPARROW with her was,
206 And soft it sate in Neck of Lass.
207 Sooth, in her lilly Face 'twould look,
208 A pretty fliggar when she spoak.
209 See the sweet FON, quoth YOUNGLING-MEY;
210 I prethee turn and with it play!
211 Alack the Day! quoth Lallet fair,
212 The lovely Lad will love elsewhere!
213 And clap'd her Face to th' dewie Grass,
214 The fairest Face that ever was.
215 The sweet Balm-breathing Paplet chear'd,
216 Soft as the Song of EVENING BIRD.
217 Then stroaked up the Locks of th' Lass;
218 And spoak her thus as gave a kiss.
[Page 54]Paplet.219 Poor DEAR! It gives me pine with pain,
220 To see poor DEAR so wond'rous wain.
221 Ah wo-a-way! Come gentle Maid,
222 In Paplet's Bosom loll thy Head!
223 Come, soft thy careful Case CHILD tell.
224 And can a Lover give such wail?
Lallet.225 Oh, had I pained but my self,
226 Instead of him, poor harmless ELF!
Paplet.227 See, Lass! that pretty Springlet fair!
228 Hark, how sweet chirp's the GRASSHOPPER!
229 There set we, SWEET! There may'st thou tell,
230 On softest Flowers, thy tender Tale.
Lallet.231 Ah what are Flowers or Spring to me:
232 Oh good! how fair my LAD would lay!
[Page 55]233 How loose we lean'd the livelong Day!
234 How wont I with his Bosom play!
235 Her dainty CHEEK, with that same Word,
236 From off the Green she pertly rear'd.
237 But as gan think what she had done,
238 Poor HEART down flapped it agen.
239 The dabling DEW fell all emong,
240 Her buding Breasts so fair and young;
241 Her buding Breasts, that bloomie grew,
242 Soft shrinked at the dabling DEW.
243 At lenth, howe're, the tender Twey
244 Won her to rise from off the LEA.
245 Quoth Cubbin, Prethee to my COTT,
246 Let's go; refresh thee there awhit.
[Page 56]247 Oh no, said she, I late did pain
248 The loveliest Lad, the sweetest Swain:
249 Not for the World! might he not now,
250 To know I'm there, be grieved too?
251 But thro' the Grove she trip'd it, and
252 The Shepherd lead her by the Hand.
Scene 3. A CAVE in middle of the Wood.
253 The gentle Lad, and Lass so fair,
254 Thus soft did sooth, for soft they were:
255 His Lips gan bloom with tender Hair,
256 Her Paps ysprouted fresh and fair.
257 At lenth the wailing SWEET ONE they
258 Bring where she safe and loose might lay.
259 A Cave there is by IDLEHILL,
260 Ye know the Place where Shepherds loll:
261 There Fauney often goes; I guess,
262 To hear the Lark, or toy with Lass.
[Page 57]263 A SWEETBREER dainty o're it spread;
264 That Roses bore, and cast a Shade.
265 Abie it ran a Rivolet;
266 Painted with Sky and Flowers so sweet.
267 To this the lilly-finger'd Lass,
268 Soft wailing, pointed as did pass.
269 May seem she wish'd to set in th' CAVE;
270 Her Love might thither hap to rove.
271 Thither the Silver-shapen Lass,
272 Soft triped it with easy Pace.
273 The SHRUBS afore her sprinkled Dew;
274 As easy Air atween 'em flew.
275 Thro' Boughs the MOONLIGHT fair beseen,
276 Sweet checkered the Grassie Green.
277 Cubbin went first to make the way;
278 And after trip'd the fine-limb MEY.
[Page 58]279 First gan ope Lip the little Lass,
280 The sweetest Lip that ever was.
281 See, gentle WAILER; See, my SWEET!
282 I've crop'd a Rose and Violet.
283 Here let me stick it in thy Breast!
284 She stuck it there, and then it kist.
285 Well were, quoth Cubbin (all elong
286 Laying him soft) we had a SONG.
287 Paplet shall shrill some lovely Lay;
288 And Paplet's sweet as Musk in May.
289 Then first the Dew-eye'd Wailer rear'd,
290 Her hanging Head as quick as Bird.
291 She lack'd 'em sore to sing, I weet,
292 Of Fauney; yet was shamed to say't.
293 Agreed, quoth sweet-lip'd Paplet quick;
294 But thou thy UNDERSONG sha't make.
[Page 59]295 And sure we so shall Lallet please.
296 You lye on that side I on this.
Paplet.297 [*][*] Paplet〈◊〉Cubbin's Song to Lallet.
Arise my FAIR ONE, come away! 298 Fresh be the Flowers the Groves as gay.
299 Early arise, e're LARK gin's sing!
300 We'll see how well the VIOLETS spring.
Cubbin.301 Come FAIR ONE, be thou like the Roe!
302 That leaping o're the HILLS doth go.
303 Come down the Gardens, to the Grove!
304 We'll hear the TURTLE in his Love.
305 Then FAUNEY sang they, what he was;
306 And could such Lad 'ere leave his Lass?
Paplet.307 Fauney doth rove like airy ROE;
308 Arm'd with a Quiver and a Bow.
[Page 60]309 In every SHADE he soft doth set;
310 And bay's in every STREAMULET.
Cubbin.311 Fauney's the Joy of every Lass;
312 All meek's his Mind as fair his Face.
313 Fauney is fresh as EVENING-SKY;
314 With small red Mouth and twinkling Eye.
315 Then soft they sang to shew the Lass,
316 No slight Mishaps made Love the less.
Paplet.317 Once clomb I for MAYBOUGH, by hap,
318 Cuddleit, the while, abie did trip.
319 He help'd me down, and sooth'd me sweet;
320 Shrew me if w'ont agen up get!
Cubbin.321 Once Soflin tript, and fell elong;
322 I spy'd her lye sweet Flowers emong:
[Page 61]323 A KISS I gave her as she lay;
324 Then lift her up and went away.
325 Thus sang the TWEY their tender Tale;
326 Sweet as the Breath of NIGHTINGALE.
327 While the fair Wailer lowly laid,
328 And hung adown her pretty Head.
329 Then Cubbin took the Hand of th' Lass,
330 And said, soft-smiling in her Face.
331 I prethee Lallet go with me!
332 Why Fauney's far enough away!
333 Oh, kind my Lad! Leave ask, quoth she;
334 Or bid go lye on yon wet LEA!
335 Could I have Heart to pain poor ELE
336 And shan't I have to pain my self?
337 She said; small thinking how the while
338 Fauney was near: Soft did he smile,
[Page 62]339 To hear the gentle-hearted Lass
340 In VEST she wrapt her lilly Face.
341 Forth crep he soft, of lovely Look;
342 Pleas'd as the hunted HART at Brook.
343 Cubbin and Paplet beck'ned first;
344 Then claspt his Arms round Lallet's WASTE.
345 So loose her held the rosie Boy,
346 That she not dreamed any nigh.
347 Anon adown her self she threw,
348 And gan to weep and wail anew.
349 Ah God! but how she looked then!
350 Is it? and is't my gentle SWAIN?
351 Like started Hare she leap'd aloft;
352 Like easy Sleep he seiz'd her soft.
[Page 63]353 Together thro' the WOOD they pass;
354 With eachen Lad his pretty Lass.
355 Merry as Lamkins on the LEA,
356 And well ye know how merry they.
357 So, all is well agen then now,
358 Lallet's as pleas'd as Bird on Bough.
359 Then what remains, ye STRIPLINGS, now;
360 But that you smile and be so too?
361 More bless'd to make's alone in you;
362 Can ye dislike what LASSES do?
363 Much Wo has had the fairfaced DEAR,
364 Do, pity her because she's fair.