T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
A Blithe and Bonny Country Lass
By Thomas Lodge (15581625)(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 |