Pastorals Viz. The Bashful Swain: And Beauty and Simplicity. By Mr. Purney |
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| III. | SCENE III. |
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| III. |
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SCENE III.
A Blea and open Heath, with Bushes. Paplet. Dillin.Pap.
The Dawn begin's to break; there lyes
The East, where now that Night-Crow fly's.
The East, where now that Night-Crow fly's.
Dill.
What is this Hoar-Frost spread so white?
O me! how blea the Air doth bite!
O me! how blea the Air doth bite!
Pap.
Tis keen and eager; small alas off-cast
These Bushes, with froz'n Isicles, the Blast!
These Bushes, with froz'n Isicles, the Blast!
Alas poor Lad, thee pain I too.
Did'st see but how thy Hair doth show!
Dill.
Did'st see but how thy Hair doth show!
O, mind not me! withouten me,
You pain enough: Yes, I can see.
You pain enough: Yes, I can see.
Pap.
No whit, not I! But soft me, is he tall?
Are his Legs slender? Prethee tattle Dill!
Are his Legs slender? Prethee tattle Dill!
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Whom meanest Mey? You asken that;
But let me ask a thing for Chat.
Say why you rise so early now?
When bleak and frosty Blasts do blow?
I lye and hear 'em, but dare not put out
My Toe a-bed; I cry 'cause you're about.
But let me ask a thing for Chat.
Say why you rise so early now?
When bleak and frosty Blasts do blow?
I lye and hear 'em, but dare not put out
My Toe a-bed; I cry 'cause you're about.
Pap.
Fie, Sirrah! you must ne're say so!
Besure do'nt tell thy Father now!
Besure do'nt tell thy Father now!
Dill.
Tell why you walk by Moon-light then,
In Orchat, ere the Day gin dawn?
In Orchat, ere the Day gin dawn?
Pap.
Shrewd Head! Sirrah, I say you must be beat,
If you do talk so. Is his Hair tho' strait?
If you do talk so. Is his Hair tho' strait?
Dill.
Tell me, Paplet, what thee ail's?
Sooth I'll not tell any else!
Once my cutten Finger made
Me wake; and thus a-sleep you said.
O this is He! (and laugh'd and fliggar'd too)
It is the Boy! by th' Light, it is the Boy!
Sooth I'll not tell any else!
Once my cutten Finger made
Me wake; and thus a-sleep you said.
O this is He! (and laugh'd and fliggar'd too)
It is the Boy! by th' Light, it is the Boy!
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But was'tne YesterEve you said,
By Lyn-heath Shepherd Colly fed.
By Lyn-heath Shepherd Colly fed.
Dill.
It was, and there his Heifers he
Drove yesterday, and drives to day.
Drove yesterday, and drives to day.
Pap.
I hope he'll not come by while we are here!
For he must pass this part of th' Plain I fear.
For he must pass this part of th' Plain I fear.
Dill.
He will abie them Bushes go.
But we've no business there you know.
But we've no business there you know.
Pap.
Soft ye! a thing I saw, methought,
All white; Is Cosset thither got?
All white; Is Cosset thither got?
Dill.
If 'tis, twill starve; Sweet FON! let's just go see.
Doe's Colly eat Folks, that ye fear him Mey?
Doe's Colly eat Folks, that ye fear him Mey?
Pap.
Ay, sooth! he's rough and sowr, they say.
Dill.
No whit! he's soft as Month of May!
Pap.
But he'as a hugeous stalking step.
Dill.
O Me! when 'tis the gentlest Trip!
The Women and the Daughters of the Grove,
As passes, bless him; and as bless him, love!
The Women and the Daughters of the Grove,
As passes, bless him; and as bless him, love!
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But soft ye! sure the Mist a-thro',
The Morning Mist, I see him go—
Pap.
The Morning Mist, I see him go—
Say'st? Where? But show me! what on there?
Dill.
No; 'tis the Snow, born up by breer.
Pap.
He! He! so fair? To stay were almost well,
Only to show how all untrue you tell!
Only to show how all untrue you tell!
Dill.
I'll lay thee what thou wo't he's so.
But soft! I-sooth he cometh now!
But soft! I-sooth he cometh now!
Pap.
O how I glad! Sweet dearest Boy,
Let hug thee! happy happy I!
I want his Soflin; him I'll ask where be.
A little while and he'll be here I-Fay!
Let hug thee! happy happy I!
I want his Soflin; him I'll ask where be.
A little while and he'll be here I-Fay!
Dill.
Soft, Paplet, he is well'y here,
Pap.
O me! I thought him not so near!
I wish he'ad not come yet! I thought
To have been ready: I'll say nought:
I'll only look: Is this he here? Alas,
I quiver; What shall do? Has he seen us?
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I would he had not come! I wish
I'ad lain a-bed! Let's skulk in Bush!
Dill.
I'ad lain a-bed! Let's skulk in Bush!
Why he'll not harm—
(Pap.)
Hush Child he'll hear!
Ha! Ha! he comes! run hind that Breer!
No, we'll stand't out.—run Dill behind; he's here!
I'll not be seen this time. Look at his Hair.
Ha! Ha! he comes! run hind that Breer!
No, we'll stand't out.—run Dill behind; he's here!
I'll not be seen this time. Look at his Hair.
Dill.
Now lye still, Pap; Do'nt whisper so.
I see's slim Waste; and his Locks blow.
O me! thou tar'st thy Neck with Bough!
Why do'st not mind? The Drops fall too!
I see's slim Waste; and his Locks blow.
O me! thou tar'st thy Neck with Bough!
Why do'st not mind? The Drops fall too!
Pap.
Hush, Dillinet! he's gone. No; still his hair
I can see fly. Now, look! he'll turn just there.
I can see fly. Now, look! he'll turn just there.
Now look, He turn's, He goe's; look! look!
—Should he not one View of me took?
How can he like, if doth not see.
'Twere better. O I bashful! He
Is gone. O Witless! Foolish! run boy, run, hast!
To Collikin; what stand'st? O Heav'n! scowr fast.
—Should he not one View of me took?
How can he like, if doth not see.
'Twere better. O I bashful! He
Is gone. O Witless! Foolish! run boy, run, hast!
To Collikin; what stand'st? O Heav'n! scowr fast.
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What must I say when there I get?
Nothing, but Collikin well met!
Nothing, but Collikin well met!
Pap.
Oh, any thing! how small I care;
Say I am scratch'd; am dying here!
Yet stay; poor gentle little boy! how should
You go and speak, when I so illy could?
Say I am scratch'd; am dying here!
Yet stay; poor gentle little boy! how should
You go and speak, when I so illy could?
Thus was the gentle-hearted Lass,
By sight of him more ill at ease.
And now what doe's she, when alone,
But go and set on a cold Stone.
And first gan muse, with head agenst a Tree,
And inly sigh full sore: Alass sweet Mey!
By sight of him more ill at ease.
And now what doe's she, when alone,
But go and set on a cold Stone.
And first gan muse, with head agenst a Tree,
And inly sigh full sore: Alass sweet Mey!
Then leaning back her pretty Head,
With folded Arms, she softly said.
Such was his Look; so hung his Hair;
And thus the Youth himself did bear.
And so thro' all his Features she would pass;
How sleek his Limbs, how fine and fair his Face.
With folded Arms, she softly said.
Such was his Look; so hung his Hair;
And thus the Youth himself did bear.
And so thro' all his Features she would pass;
How sleek his Limbs, how fine and fair his Face.
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Then wipe's the lilly-handed Lass,
Her dewie Breast, and tearie Face,
And rises soft; we'll go, quoth she,
And look where Collikin may be.
Now he with Soflin his True-love had met;
Soflin as sweet, as breath of Morn is sweet.
Her dewie Breast, and tearie Face,
And rises soft; we'll go, quoth she,
And look where Collikin may be.
Now he with Soflin his True-love had met;
Soflin as sweet, as breath of Morn is sweet.
They smil'd to hear the Winds by-rush,
Skulk'd in the Covert of a Bush.
Within the Bush was truss'd fresh Hay;
And soft they sate, as fair as Day.
Soflin her Apron o're her Colly spread,
And Colly 'neath his Arm his Soflin laid.
Skulk'd in the Covert of a Bush.
Within the Bush was truss'd fresh Hay;
And soft they sate, as fair as Day.
Soflin her Apron o're her Colly spread,
And Colly 'neath his Arm his Soflin laid.
Strait, to 'em steal's unseen the Mey;
Ynethered on hand and knee.
If Leaves a little rustle made,
She squatted as a Hare afraid.
Ne breathed: Sooth her heart went pit-a-pat;
She quak'd at Air; her Shadow skewed at.
Ynethered on hand and knee.
If Leaves a little rustle made,
She squatted as a Hare afraid.
Ne breathed: Sooth her heart went pit-a-pat;
She quak'd at Air; her Shadow skewed at.
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Whenas she came a-hind the Breer,
Close crep to Colly as she dare.
O happy Hay! (soft said the Lass)
Thrice happy Hay, to bear his Face!
Soflin he kist; O how her Heart did yearn!
The Bush she shak't; yet wisht he might not turn.
Close crep to Colly as she dare.
O happy Hay! (soft said the Lass)
Thrice happy Hay, to bear his Face!
Soflin he kist; O how her Heart did yearn!
The Bush she shak't; yet wisht he might not turn.
Paplet, quoth Soflin, was last-day
At Wake. That Paplet, answer'd he,
And pauz'd to cough. She prick'd her Ears;
Her Heart beat; pale she look'd with fears.
That Paplet soothly is a tender Mey!
Walk thro' the World you sha'nt a softer see!
At Wake. That Paplet, answer'd he,
And pauz'd to cough. She prick'd her Ears;
Her Heart beat; pale she look'd with fears.
That Paplet soothly is a tender Mey!
Walk thro' the World you sha'nt a softer see!
But ah! how this the Youngling warms!
Dilly she caught in eager Arms.
Brisk fliggar'd. Kist, and kist agen;
And look't, the while, at Collikin.
And as the tender Air his breath did blow;
She catch'd the Air; quoth she, his Breath I've too!
Dilly she caught in eager Arms.
Brisk fliggar'd. Kist, and kist agen;
And look't, the while, at Collikin.
And as the tender Air his breath did blow;
She catch'd the Air; quoth she, his Breath I've too!
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But now the kindly Cudleit could,
No longer wait in th' gloomy Wood.
He wondred why the Mey came not;
And sure, said he, She'as some Mishap.
So, when he yearn'd, and could no longer stay,
He came and saw the Lass where loose she lay.
No longer wait in th' gloomy Wood.
He wondred why the Mey came not;
And sure, said he, She'as some Mishap.
So, when he yearn'd, and could no longer stay,
He came and saw the Lass where loose she lay.
She saw not him, till close he got,
And in his eager Arms her caught.
And then what could She, could not cry,
Ne struggle, Collikin so nigh.
Much while she bore the soothing of the Swain;
Then sprang, and won her Limbs yloose agen.
And in his eager Arms her caught.
And then what could She, could not cry,
Ne struggle, Collikin so nigh.
Much while she bore the soothing of the Swain;
Then sprang, and won her Limbs yloose agen.
But Colley heard, and thro' the Hay
Peeping, yspy'd the struggling Twey.
He saw it was the kindly Mey,
He lik'd in th' Wood a while-a-way.
And shall not I, he cry'd, go take the part,
Of such a gentle such a tender Heart!
Peeping, yspy'd the struggling Twey.
He saw it was the kindly Mey,
He lik'd in th' Wood a while-a-way.
And shall not I, he cry'd, go take the part,
Of such a gentle such a tender Heart!
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So saying step'd 'em both a-tween.
Then oh how lookt the Youngling-Swain!
He started, blush'd, and inly sigh'd;
While Paplet off with Colly hied.
Who 'ore the Plains and Meadows with her go'th,
And softly sooth's as soft as he can sooth.
Then oh how lookt the Youngling-Swain!
He started, blush'd, and inly sigh'd;
While Paplet off with Colly hied.
Who 'ore the Plains and Meadows with her go'th,
And softly sooth's as soft as he can sooth.
The Lad was jolly as the Day;
Merry the Lass as Month of May.
He leap'd and laugh'd a-thwart the Mead;
She simper'd, smil'd, and turn'd the Head.
All Way her Vest he smooth'd, and stroak'd her Hair,
And knew not why, but sigh'd when left the Dear.
Merry the Lass as Month of May.
He leap'd and laugh'd a-thwart the Mead;
She simper'd, smil'd, and turn'd the Head.
All Way her Vest he smooth'd, and stroak'd her Hair,
And knew not why, but sigh'd when left the Dear.
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