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| FAIR 1 Nymphs! sit ye here by me | |
| On this flow’ry green; | |
| While we, this merry day, do see | |
| Some things but seldom seen. | |
| Shepherds all! now come, sit around | 5 |
| On yond chequered plain; | |
| While, from the woods, we hear resound | |
| Some comfort for Love’s pain. | |
| Every bird sits on his bough | |
| As brag as he that is the best; | 10 |
| Then, sweet Love! reveal how | |
| Our minds may be at rest! | |
| Echo thus replied to me, | |
| ‘Sit under yonder beechen-tree; | |
| And there, Love shall shew thee, | 15 |
| How all may be redrest!’ | |
| |
| Hark! Hark! Hark, the Nightingale! | |
| In her mourning lay, | |
| She tells her story’s woeful tale, | |
| To warn ye, if she may, | 20 |
| ‘Fair maids! take ye heed of Love, | |
| It is a per’lous thing! | |
| As Philomel herself did prove, | |
| Abusèd by a King. | |
| If Kings play false, believe no men | 25 |
| That make a seemly outward show, | |
| But, caught once, beware then; | |
| For then begins your woe! | |
| They will look babies in your eyes, | |
| And speak so fair as fair may be; | 30 |
| But trust them in no wise! | |
| Example take by me!’ | |
| |
| ‘Fie! Fie!’ said the Threstlecock, | |
| ‘You are much to blame, | |
| For one man’s fault, all men to blot, | 35 |
| Impairing their good name. | |
| Admit you were used amiss, | |
| By that ungentle King; | |
| It follows not, that you, for this, | |
| Should all men’s honours wring; | 40 |
| There be good; and there be bad! | |
| And some are false; and some are true! | |
| As good choice is still had | |
| Amongst us men, as you! | |
| Women have faults as well as we; | 45 |
| Some say, for our one, they have three! | |
| Then smite not; nor bite not; | |
| When you as faulty be.’ | |
| |
| ‘Peace! peace!’ quoth Madge Howlet then, | |
| Sitting out of sight, | 50 |
| ‘For women are as good as men; | |
| And both are good alike!’ | |
| ‘Not so!’ said the little Wren, | |
| ‘Difference there may be, | |
| The cock always commands the hen; | 55 |
| Then men shall go for me?’ | |
| Then Robin Redbreast, stepping in, | |
| Would needs take up this tedious strife; | |
| Protesting, ‘True loving | |
| In either, lengthened life! | 60 |
| If I love you, and you love me; | |
| Can there be better harmony? | |
| Thus ending contending, | |
| Love must the umpire be!’ | |
| |
| Fair nymphs! Love must be your guide, | 65 |
| Chaste, unspotted Love; | |
| To such as do your thralls betide, | |
| Resolved without remove. | |
| Likewise, jolly Shepherd Swains, | |
| If you do respect | 70 |
| The happy issue of your pains, | |
| True Love must you direct! | |
| You hear the birds contend for love; | |
| The bubbling springs do sing sweet love; | |
| The mountains and fountains | 75 |
| Do echo nought but love! | |
| Take hands, then, Nymphs and Shepherds all! | |
| And to this river’s music’s fall, | |
| Sing, ‘True Love and Chaste Love | |
| Begins our Festival!’ | 80 |
