George Wither (1588-1667). I Loved a Lass. William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. 1907. The Book of Elizabethan Verse

William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Elizabethan Verse. 1907.

I Loved a Lass

By George Wither (1588–1667)


I LOVED a lass, a fair one,
As fair as e’er was seen;
She was indeed a rare one,
Another Sheba Queen:
But, fool as then I was,	5
I thought she loved me too:
But now, alas! she’s left me,
Falero, lero, loo!

Her hair like gold did glister,
Each eye was like a star,	10
She did surpass her sister,
Which pass’d all others far;
She would me honey call,
She’d—O she’d kiss me too!
But now, alas! she’s left me,	15
Falero, lero, loo!

Many a merry meeting
My love and I have had;
She was my only sweeting,
She made my heart full glad;	20
The tears stood in her eyes
Like to the morning dew:
But now alas! she’s left me,
Falero, lero, loo!

Her cheeks were like the cherry,	25
Her skin was white as snow;
When she was blithe and merry
She angel-like did show;
Her waist exceeding small,
The fives did fit her shoe:	30
But now, alas! she’s left me,
Falero, lero, loo!

In summer time or winter
She had her heart’s desire;
I still did scorn to stint her	35
From sugar, sack, or fire;
The world went round about,
No cares we ever knew:
But now, alas! she’s left me,
Falero, lero, loo!	40

To maidens’ vows and swearing
Henceforth no credit give;
You may give them the hearing,
But never them believe;
They are as false as fair,	45
Unconstant, frail, untrue:
For mine, alas! hath left me,
Falero, lero, loo!