The Happy Lovers Pastime:
Shewing how a Nymph and Shepherd vow'd to love,
As long as they had life and strength to move;
They count all pleasure else but a toy,
To that of Love, it is the life of joy:
They constant prove, in all things do agree,
To Lovers all I wish the like may be.
To a Pleasant new Tune, called: On the Bank of a Brook.
|
ON the bank of a brook as I sat Fishing,
|
hid in the Oziers that grew on the side,
|
I overheard a Nimph and Shepherd wishing,
|
no time nor fortune their love might divide;
|
To Cupid and Venus each offered a vow,
|
For to love ever as they loved now.
|
Oh! said the Shepheard, and sigh'd! what a pleasure,
|
is love concealed betwixt Lovers alone,
|
Love must be secret, and like fayry treasure,
|
when once discovered, 'twill quickly be gone.
|
So envy and jealousie where they do stay,
|
Oh! too soon, alas, will make a decay.
|
Then let us leave the World and care behind us,
|
said the Nimph smiling, and gave me her hand,
|
All alone, all alone, where none can find us,
|
in some far Desart we'l seek a new Land:
|
And there live from envy and jealousie free,
|
And a whole world to each other we'l be.
|
Up rose the Shepheard, and said that a blessing,
|
more sweet no Lover could ever enjoy,
|
Were I departing, these words then expressing,
|
would fetch me to life, and sorrow destroy,
|
Nay, add but a Kiss, and grim death will soon say,
|
I will never take such a Lover away.
|
|
|
|
|
The Second Part, To the same Tune.
|
THen said the Nymph, if they have so enflamed,
|
what would those do which I do conceal,
|
They would far exceed what hath been yet named,
|
but hath not power them yet to reveal.
|
For when I do think for to utter them plain,
|
They back from my tongue do soon slip again.
|
But shepherd i'le tell thee how long I've lov'd thee
|
and where thou at first didst kindle my flame,
|
'Twas in the month of May that you first mov'd me,
|
but with what charms I need not to name;
|
And 'twas neer a River that run by a Grove,
|
You tryed to taste the pleasure of Love.
|
But under a shady Tree Cupid did wound me,
|
and in my kind breast he fixed his Dart,
|
But oh! the time was too short when he crown'd me,
|
I wish'd that sweet minute might never depart.
|
And I long to be crown'd with the pleasure again,
|
For all our long wishes to that is but vain.
|
My dearest I hope I han't gain'd thy displeasure,
|
for what my kind tongue hath uttered now,
|
Oh! think, 'tis my love that burns without mea-sure,
|
making me keep to the words of my vow,
|
But think what we promis'd loves Queen and her son,
|
'Twas to love ever as when we begun.
|
Fair nimph, said the youth, thou dost not offend me
|
you banish my grief, and pleaseth my mind,
|
Ile venture my life in fight to defend thee,
|
and think i'm happy such honour to find.
|
And if ever I prove disloyal to thee,
|
Blind Cupid I wish to sacrifice me.
|
But my dear do not ever once fear me,
|
for I adore all thy beauties divine,
|
And that for the true love I do now bare thee,
|
i'de make thee a Dutchess were power but mine
|
But since that such honour I cannot bestow,
|
I'le give you such gifts you never did know.
|
Now on thy Rosie lips i'le give thee sweet kisses,
|
whilst my arms shall most loving imbrace;
|
But if thou art disposed to have thy sweet wishes,
|
then let us depart to some other place,
|
Then said the fair Nymph, let us hast to a Grove,
|
And there we'l enjoy the pleasure of Love.
|
So then they kissed and imbraced each other,
|
but they resolved there no longer to stay;
|
They wish't no misfortunes their joys might smo-ther,
|
and sung this as they past on their way,
|
My dear let us joyn both together and try,
|
Which can love the most my dearest or I.
|
|
|
|
|