And you, my companions so dear,
Who sorrow to see me betray'd,
Whatever I suffer, forbear,

Forbear to accuse the false maid; Tho' thro' the wide world we should range, 'Tis in vain from our fortune to fly; 'Twas hers to be false, and to change, "Tis mine to be constant, and die.

If while my hard fate I sustain,
In her breast any pity is found,

Let her come with the nymphs of the plain,
And see me laid low in the ground:
The last humble boon that I crave

Is to shade me with cypress and yew, And when she looks down on my grave Let her own that her shepherd was true.

Then to her new love let her go,
And deck her in golden array,

Be finest at every fine show,

And frolic it all the long day:
While Colin forgotten and gone,
No more shall be heard of her seen,
Unless when beneath the pale moon
His ghost shall glide over the green.

[ROWE.]

As on a summer's day,

In the greenwood shade I lay,
The maid that I lov'd,

As her fancy mov❜d,

Came walking forth that way.

And as she passed by,

With a scornful glance of her eye, What a shame, quoth she,

For a swain must it be,

Like a lazy loon for to lie?

And dost thou nothing heed

What Pan our God has decreed;

What a prize to-day

Shall be given away

To the sweetest shepherd's reed?

There's not a single swain

Of all this fruitful plain,

But with hopes and fears,

Now busily prepares The bonny boon to gain.

F

Shall another maiden shine
In brighter array than thine?
Up, up, dull swain,

Tune thy pipe once again,
And make the garland mine.

Alas! my love, I cried,

What avails this courtly pride?
Since thy dear desert

Is written in my heart,
What is all the world beside ?

To me thou art more gay

In this homely russet gray,

Than the nymphs of our green,

So trim and so sheen,

Or the brightest queen of May.

What tho' my fortune frown,
And deny thee a silken gown;
My own dear maid,

Be content with this shade,
And a shepherd all thy own.

A

THE DESPONDING SHEPHERD.

[PRIOR.]

ALEXIS shunn'd his fellow swains,
Their rural sports and jocund strains;
Heaven shield us all from Cupid's bow!
He lost his crook, he left his flocks,
And wandering thro' the lonely rocks,
He nourish'd endless woe.

The nymphs and shepherds round him came,
His grief some pity, others blame,

The fatal cause all kindly seek;
He mingled his concern with theirs,
He gave them back their friendly tears,
He sigh'd, but could not speak.

Clorinda came among the rest,
And she too kind concern exprest
And ask'd the reason of his woe;
She ask❜d, but with an air and mien
That made it easily foreseen

She fear'd too much to know.

The shepherd rais'd his mournful head,
And will you pardon me, he said,

While I the cruel truth reveal ?

Which nothing from my breast should tear,
Which never should offend your ear,
But that you bid me tell.

"Tis thus I rove, 'tis thus complain,
Since you appear'd upon the plain,
You are the cause of all my care;
Your eyes ten thousand dangers dart,
Ten thousand torments vex my heart,
I love, and I despair.

Too much, Alexis, have I heard,

'Tis what I thought, 'tis what I fear'd,

And yet I pardon you, she cried;

But you shall promise ne'er again,
To breathe your vows, or speak your pain,
He bow'd, obey'd, and died.