| | AN ancient chestnut's blossoms threw | |
| Their heavy odour over two: | |
| Leucippe, it is said, was one; | |
| The other, then, was Alciphron. | |
| 'Come, come! why should we stand beneath | 5 |
| This hollow tree's unwholesome breath?' | |
| Said Alciphron, 'here 's not a blade | |
| Of grass or moss, and scanty shade. | |
| Come; it is just the hour to rove | |
| In the lone dingle shepherds love; | 10 |
| There, straight and tall, the hazel twig | |
| Divides the crookèd rock-held fig, | |
| O'er the blue pebbles where the rill | |
| In winter runs and may run still. | |
| Come then, while fresh and calm the air, | 15 |
| And while the shepherds are not there.' | |
| |
| Leucippe. | But I would rather go when they | |
| Sit round about and sing and play. | |
| Then why so hurry me? for you | |
| Like play and song, and shepherds too. | 20 |
| |
| Alciphron. | I like the shepherds very well, | |
| And song and play, as you can tell. | |
| But there is play, I sadly fear, | |
| And song I would not have you hear. | |
| |
| Leucippe. | What can it be? What can it be? | 25 |
| |
| Alciphron. | To you may none of them repeat | |
| The play that you have play'd with me, | |
| The song that made your bosom beat. | |
| |
| Leucippe. | Don't keep your arm about my waist. | |
| |
| Alciphron. | Might you not stumble? | 30 |
| |
| Leucippe. | Well then, do. | |
| But why are we in all this haste? | |
| |
| Alciphron. | To sing. | |
| |
| Leucippe. | Alas! and not play too? | |
