T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
A Blithe and Bonny Country Lass
By Thomas Lodge (1558–1625)(From “Rosalynde,” 1590) 1. A blith and bonny Country Lass | |
| Sat sighing on the tender Grass, | |
| And weeping said, will none come woo her? | |
| A dapper Boy, a lither Swain, | |
| That had a mind her love to gain, | 5 |
| With smiling looks straight came unto her. | |
| 2. When as the wanton Girl espied | |
| The means to make herself a Bride, | |
| She simmer’d much like bonny Nell. | |
| The Swain that saw her very kind, | 10 |
| His arms about her body twin’d, | |
| And said, Fair Lass, how fare ye, well? | |
| 3. The Country Lass said, Well forsooth, | |
| But that I have a longing tooth, | |
| A longing tooth, that makes me cry. | 15 |
| Alas, says he, what gars thy grief? | |
| A wound, says she, without relief, | |
| I fear that I a Maid shall die. | |
| 4. If that be all, the Shepherd said, | |
| I’ll make thee Wive it, gentle Maid, | 20 |
| And so recure thy Malady: | |
| On which they kist, with many an Oath, | |
| And ’fore God Pan did light their Troth; | |
| So to the Church away they hie. | |
| 5. And Jove send every pretty Peat, | 25 |
| That fears to die of this conceit, | |
| So kind a Friend to help at last: | |
| Then Maids shall never long again, | |
| When they find ease for such a pain: | |
| And thus my Roundelay is past. | 30 |