Volume Ii Part 32 (2/2)

Why left I Amynta? Why broke I my vow?

Oh, give me my sheep, and my sheep-hook restore, And I'll wander from love and Amynta no more.

Through regions remote in vain do I rove, And bid the wide ocean secure me from love!

O fool! to imagine that aught could subdue A love so well founded, a pa.s.sion so true!

Alas! 'tis too late at thy fate to repine; Poor shepherd, Amynta can never be thine: Thy tears are all fruitless, thy wishes are vain, The moments neglected return not again.

Gilbert Elliot [1722-1777]

”O NANCY! WILT THOU GO WITH ME”

O Nancy, wilt thou go with me, Nor sigh to leave the flaunting town: Can silent glens have charms for thee, The lowly cot, the russet gown?

No longer dressed in silken sheen, No longer decked with jewels rare, Say, canst thou quit each courtly scene Where thou wert fairest of the fair?

O Nancy! when thou'rt far away, Wilt thou not cast a wish behind?

Say, canst thou face the parching ray, Nor shrink before the wintry wind?

O! can that soft and gentle mien Extremes of hards.h.i.+p learn to bear, Nor, sad, regret each courtly scene Where thou wert fairest of the fair?

O Nancy! canst thou love so true, Through perils keen with me to go, Or when thy swain mishap shall rue, To share with him the pang of woe?

Say, should disease or pain befall, Wilt thou a.s.sume the nurse's care; Nor wistful those gay scenes recall Where thou wert fairest of the fair?

And when at last thy love shall die, Wilt thou receive his parting breath?

Wilt thou repress each struggling sigh, And cheer with smiles the bed of death?

And wilt thou o'er his breathless clay Strew flowers and drop the tender tear?

Nor then regret those scenes so gay Where thou wert fairest of the fair?

Thomas Percy [1729-1811]

CAVALIER'S SONG

If doughty deeds my lady please, Right soon I'll mount my steed; And strong his arm and fast his seat, That bears frae me the meed.

I'll wear thy colors in my cap, Thy picture in my heart; And he that bends not to thine eye Shall rue it to his smart!

Then tell me how to woo thee, Love; O tell me how to woo thee!

For thy dear sake nae care I'll take, Though ne'er another trow me.

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