ONE day, by appointment, Maria I met, | |
| That day of delight I remember it yet; | |
| As the meadow we cross’d to avoid the town’s crowd, | |
| The sun seem’d eclips’d by a black spreading cloud: | |
| Escaping the shower, to barn we fast fled, | 5 |
| There safe heard the pattering rain overhead. | |
| |
| Some moments I suffer’d my fair to take breath, | |
| Then, sighing, she cry’d, “Lord! I’m frighted to death; | |
| Suppose, now, by any one I should be seen?” | |
| “Nay, nay, now,—nay, pray now—dear—what do you mean?” | 10 |
| “Had I thought you’d be half so rude—fie! for shame! | |
| I wish I’d been wet to the skin e’er I came. | |
| |
| “You will have a kiss, then!—why, take one or two! | |
| I beg you won’t tease me!—Lord! what wou’d you do? | |
| You’ll tear all one’s things—I ne’er saw such a man! | 15 |
| I will hold both your hands!—Aye, do if you can: | |
| Is this your love for me?—Is this all you care? | |
| I’ll never come near you again,—now, I swear!” | |
| |
| As she push’d me away, love explain’d by her eyes, | |
| Resistance was only to heighten the prize; | 20 |
| Her face chang’d, alternate, from scarlet to snow, | |
| Her neck rose and fell fast, her language was low: | |
| Such beauty! but more of that scene was not shown— | |
| For decency here bid her curtain drop down. | |
| |
| The storm being over, all sunshine the air, | 25 |
| When instant rose up, the yet love-looking fair, | |
| Crying, hark! there’s one listens—do look out, my dear, | |
| I must be bewitch’d, I am sure, to come here. | |
| My things how they’re rumpled!—Lord, let me begone; | |
| What have you been doing? and what have I done? | 30 |
| |
| Into this fatal place, I most solemnly vow, | |
| I innocent enter’d—but am I so now? | |
| I’m ruin’d,—I never myself can forgive— | |
| I’ll leap in the brook,—for I’m sure I can’t live!— | |
| If I do, my whole life will be wasted in grief, | 35 |
| Unless here tomorrow you’ll give me relief. | |
| |
