Trivial poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

This Aprile last a gentle swayne
Went early to the wood;
His businesse was, that hee would fayne
His lott haue understood.
'Las! poore man!
Sad and wan
He was growne, for loue of Nan;
'Twould him cheare,
Could hee heare
The sweet nightingale's uoyce here:
Whereso-ere he went,
Still his eare hee bent
Listning her to find.

2

His friend (itt seemes) was better luck'd,
And heard one in the parcke;
Whereatt by th'sleeue her t'other pluck'd,
And cry'de, Harcke! there's one, harcke!
Th'honest lad
Was right glad,
Thincking now good newes t'haue had:
Whilst that hee
(Full of glee)
Listing stood to eu'ry tree,
Not the nightingall,
But th'affrighting-all
Ill-lou'd cuckow sang.

3

What tydings this may signify
I leaue to time to tell:
But (if itt were mine owne case) I
Should hope all would goe well.
As I guesse,
Faythfullnesse
With the cuckow may expresse:
Marcke your fill
When you will,
Him you'l find in one note still.
Though men feare him all
When they heare him call,
'Tis a lucky bird.

4

Then cheare up James, and neuer sett
False comments on the text:
If with th'one bird this yeare th'hast mett,
Thoul't meete with t'other next.

Doe not droope!
Nan shall stoope
To thy lure, though th'cuckow whoope:
The bird sayth
That thy faith
Itt's reward now neare-hand hath.
Neuer thincke on't, man!
Come, lett's drincke to Nan,
She shall bee thine own.