A Shepherd kept Sheep on a Hill so high, fa, la, la, &c.
And there came a pretty Maid passing by, fa, la, &c.
Shepherd, quoth she, dost thou want e’er a Wife,
No by my troth I’m not weary of my Life, fa, la, la, &c.
Shepherd for thee I care not a Fly, fa, la, la,
For thou’st not the Face with a fair Maid to lie, fa, la,
How now my Damsel, say’st thou me so,
Thou shalt tast of my bottle before thou dost go, fa, la.
Then he took her and laid her upon the Ground, fa, la,
And made her believe that the World went round, fa, la,
Look yonder my Shepherd, look yonder I spy,
There are fine pretty Babies that dance in the Sky, fa, la.
And now they are vanisht, and now they appear, fa, la,
Sure they will tell Stories of what we do here, fa, la, la,
Lie still my dear Chloris, enjoy thy Conceit,
For the Babes are too young and too little to prate, fa, la, la.
See how the Heavens fly swifter than Day, fa, la, la,
Rise quickly, or they will all run away, fa, la, la,
Rise quickly my Shepherd, quickly I tell ye,
For the Sun, Moon and Stars are got all in my Belly, fa, la.
O dear, where am I? pray shew me the way, fa, la, la,
Unto my Father’s House hard by, fa, la, la,
If he chance to Chide me for staying so long,
I’ll tell him the fumes of your Bottle were strong, fa, la, la.
And now thou hast brought my Body to shame, fa, la,
I prithee now tell me what is thy Name, fa, la, la,
Why Robin in the Rushes my Name is, quoth he,
But I think I told her quite contrary, fa, la, la.
Then for Robin in the Rushes, she did enquire, fa, la, la,
But he hung down his Head, and he would not come nigh her, fa, la, la,
He wink’d with one Eye, as if he had been Blind,
And he drew one Leg after a great way behind, fa, la, la.
A SONG.
[[Listen]]
AS I was a walking under a Grove,
Within my self, as I suppos’d;
My Mind did oftentimes remove,
And by no means could be disclosed:
At length by chance a Friend I met,
Which caused me long time to tarry;
And thus of me she did intreat,
To tell her when I meant to Marry.
Sweet-heart, quoth I, if you would know,
Then hear the Words, and I’ll reveal it;
Since in your Mind you bear it so,
And in your Heart you will conceal it:
She promis’d me she’d make no Words,
But of such things she would be wary;
And thus in brief I did begin,
To tell her when I meant to Marry.
When Shrove-tide falls in Easter week,
And Christmas in the midst of July;
When Lawyers for no Fees will Plead,
And Taylors they prove Just and Truly:
When all Deceits are quite put down,
And Truth by all Men is preferred;
And Indigo dies Red and Brown,
O then my Love and I’ll be Married.
When Men and Beasts in the Ocean flow,
And Fishes in green Fields are feeding;
When Muscle-shells in the Streets grow,
And Swans upon dry Rocks be breeding:
When Cockle-shells are Diamond Rings,
And Glass to Pearl may be compared;
Gold is made of a Grey-goose Wings,
Oh then my Love and I’ll be Married.
When hostesses do reckon true,
And Dutchmen leave off drinking Brandy;
When Cats do bark, and Dogs do Mew,
And Brimstone is took for Sugar-candy:
Or when that Whitsontide do fall,
Within the Month of January;
And a Cobler works without an Awl,
O then my, &c.
When Women know not how to Scold,
And Maids on Sweet-hearts ne’er are thinking;
When Men in the Fire complain of Cold,
And Ships on Salisbury Plain fear sinking:
Or when Horse-Coursers turn honest Men,
And London into York is carried;
And out of One you can take Ten,
Oh then, &c.
When Candlesticks do serve for Bells,
And Frying-pans they do use for Ladles;
When in the Sea they dig for Wells,
And Porridge-pots they use for Cradles:
When Maids forget to go a Maying,
And a Man on his Back an Ox can carry;
Or when the Mice with the Cat be playing,
Oh then, &c.
Good Sir, since you have told me when,
That you’re resolv’d for to Marry;
I wish with all my Heart till then,
That for a Wife you still may tarry:
But if all young Men were of your mind,
And Maids no better were preferred;
I think it were when the D——l were blind,
That we and our Lovers should be Married.
