 | Poems on several subjects |  |
SONG IX.
[On a sweet summer evening, a-walking I went]
On a sweet summer evening, a-walking I went,
At my canny leisure,
To view ilka pleasure,
To languishing spirits 'twould afforded content;
Where flow'rs above measure send forth a sweet scent.
At my canny leisure,
To view ilka pleasure,
To languishing spirits 'twould afforded content;
Where flow'rs above measure send forth a sweet scent.
Thinks I, what a pleasure dwells in this sweet field,
Where Flora dispenses,
To pleasure the senses,
So sweet and fine odours, contentment to yield,
To all whose pretences love a rural field.
Where Flora dispenses,
To pleasure the senses,
So sweet and fine odours, contentment to yield,
To all whose pretences love a rural field.
Then looking around me, I suddenly was
Surpris'd by a creature,
Whose beauty was greater
Than any before I e'er saw in a lass;
She had comely features, as she stood on the grass.
Surpris'd by a creature,
Whose beauty was greater
Than any before I e'er saw in a lass;
She had comely features, as she stood on the grass.
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Then modestly smiling, unto me she said,
Swain, Where are you walking,
So lazily stalking,
In this secret grove? To which I replied,
I'm taking my pastime in this pleasant shade.
Swain, Where are you walking,
So lazily stalking,
In this secret grove? To which I replied,
I'm taking my pastime in this pleasant shade.
With that, a sharp arrow from Love's fatal bow,
It deeply me wounded,
There I lay confounded;
Senseless with pain, and scarcely could know
What was my condition; but my breast it did glow.
It deeply me wounded,
There I lay confounded;
Senseless with pain, and scarcely could know
What was my condition; but my breast it did glow.
When, after a little, I recover'd again,
Then knew I the matter,
How that charming creature
Had been all the cause of my former pain;
And frankly my passion I 'gan to explain.
Then knew I the matter,
How that charming creature
Had been all the cause of my former pain;
And frankly my passion I 'gan to explain.
Dear lassie, said I, by thy lovely charms,
I'm robb'd of my senses,
As here evidences
My fainting, that caused by Cupid's sharp arms;
T'enjoy thee, sweet creature, my heart he alarms.
I'm robb'd of my senses,
As here evidences
My fainting, that caused by Cupid's sharp arms;
T'enjoy thee, sweet creature, my heart he alarms.
Since in this sweet grove I'm wounded by thee,
Pray do not disdain me,
For that will sore pain me;
But rather comply, or let me go free;
But it seems thou'rt the lass that's allotted for me.
Pray do not disdain me,
For that will sore pain me;
But rather comply, or let me go free;
But it seems thou'rt the lass that's allotted for me.
This made the sweet lassie to sigh, and to say,
How has Fortune brought me,
(When none would have thought me)
To walk in the evening, and not in the day?
Or how am I happen'd this night in thy way?
How has Fortune brought me,
(When none would have thought me)
To walk in the evening, and not in the day?
Or how am I happen'd this night in thy way?
Said I, with a sigh, but she could not hear,
You are the sweet creature,
And that is the matter,
That in this green shade, on this evening clear;
That must be my love, as now doth appear.
You are the sweet creature,
And that is the matter,
That in this green shade, on this evening clear;
That must be my love, as now doth appear.
| Poems on several subjects | |