AS one bright summer’s sultry day, | |
| For sake of shade I sought the grove; | |
| Thro’ thickset-hedge, on top of hay, | |
| I met with mutual love. | |
| A youth with one arm round his pretty girl’s waist, | 5 |
| On small swelling breasts he his other hand plac’d, | |
| While she cry’d, Dick, be still, | |
| Pray tell me what’s your will? | |
| |
| “I come (quoth Dick) to have some chat,” | |
| And close to hers his lips he squeez’d; | 10 |
| “I guess (cries Doll) what you’d be at, | |
| But now I won’t be teas’d.” | |
| She strove to rise up, but his strength held her down, | |
| She called out for help! and petitioned the clown, | |
| “O Dick, dear, let me rise, | 15 |
| The Sun puts out my eyes. | |
| |
| “I’ll tear your soul out!—Lord! these men, | |
| If ever—well—I won’t submit.— | |
| Why? what? the devil!—Curse me then!— | |
| You’ll fling me in a fit.” | 20 |
| Down, like a bent lily, her head dropp’d aslant; | |
| Her eyes lost the day-light, her breath became scant, | |
| And feebly on her tongue | |
| Expiring accents hung. | |
| |
| The chorus birds sung o’er their heads, | 25 |
| The breeze blew rustling thro’ the grove; | |
| Sweet smelt the hay, on new-mown meads: | |
| All seem’d the scene of love. | |
| Dick offer’d to lift up the lass as she lay; | |
| A look, full of tenderness told him to stay. | 30 |
| “So soon, Dick, will you go? | |
| “I wish—dear me!—heigh ho!” | |
| |
| Vibrating with heart-heaving sighs, | |
| Her tucker trembling to and fro’, | |
| Her crimson’d cheeks, her glist’ning eyes, | 35 |
| Proclaim’d possession’s glow. | |
| Dick bid her farewell; but she, languishing, cry’d, | |
| As wanton she play’d by her fallen shepherd’s side; | |
| “A moment, pray sit still, | |
| Since now you’ve had your will.” | 40 |
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| “Lord! (cries the girl) you hasty men, | |
| Of love afford but one poor proof; | |
| Our fowls at home, each sparrow-hen, | |
| Is ten times better off. | |
| No! that you should not, had I known your design, | 45 |
| But, since you’ve had your will, pray let me have mine; | |
| So, once more, e’er we rise, | |
| Do, dear Dick, save my eyes.” | |
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