The Longing Shepherdess:
OR,
LADY lie neer me.
To the Tune of, Lady lie neer me: or, The Green Garter.
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ALL in the Month of May,
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when all things blossom,
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As in my bed I lay
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sleep it grew Loathsome:
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Up I Rose and did walk
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over yon Mountains,
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Through Mountains & through Dales
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over Rocks and Fountains,
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I heard a voice to say,
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Sweet-heart come chear me,
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Thou hast been long away,
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Lady lye neer me.
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Down by yon River side,
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and surging billows,
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A pleasant Grove I spide,
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will set with willows:
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In it a Shepherdesse
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singing most clearly,
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And still her note it was,
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Lady lye neer me.
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Come away do not stay, etc.
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Sweetheart thou stayst too long
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Phebus is watching,
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Aurora with her steed,
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is fast approaching:
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She doth her chariot mount
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which much do fear me,
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Each hour a year I count
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till you lye neer me:
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Come away do not stay
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sweat-heart and chear me,
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Thou hast been long away,
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Lady lye neer me.
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Hymen keeps holy day
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Love take thy pleasure,
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Cupid hath thrown away
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his Bow and Quiver:
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B[o]reas doth gently blow
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least I should fear him,
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Yet dare I not stay
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alone to hear him.
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Come away, etc.
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DId not Adonis like
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sweet-heart fly from me,
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For careful I will be
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as doth become me.
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Both of my flock and thine
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whilst they are feeding,
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Dear is my love to thee,
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as is exceeding,
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Come away, etc.
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I may sing welladay
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my joys are ended,
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The hour of my approach
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is almost spended:
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My Parents will me misse,
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and Swains will jeer me,
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Thus still her note it was,
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Lady lye neer me:
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Come away, etc.
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She had no sooner spoke
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but her true Lover,
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Neer to her did approach
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her grief to smother:
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Hearing thy mone my sweet,
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I came to chear thee,
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And will before I part,
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dearest lye neer thee:
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Be not sad, I am glad
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that I did hear thee,
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And what as can he had
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thouse haye to chear thee.
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No cost that I will spare,
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for to content thee,
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Junkets the best that are,
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they shall be sent thee,
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The chiefest I can get,
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and best Canary,
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Then do not sweet-heart sit
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so solitary,
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Be not sad, etc.
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I hate to bear the mind
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of a base peasant,
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Thou still shalt find me kind,
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Partridge and Phesant,
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Butchers meat is but gross,
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fair that is dainty,
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For thee my loving Lasse,
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we will have plenty,
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Be not sad, etc.
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Adonis like to prove
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that were so cruel.
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To one so dear I love,
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the Richest jewel:
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I do not estimate
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like thee my sweeting,
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I in my heart will hate
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for to be fleeting,
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Be not sad, etc.
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The time we'l passe away
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Histories Reading,
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Whilst our flock day by day,
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gently are feeding:
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And on my Oaten Reed
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Love to Requite thee,
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Care away I will play
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for to delight thee.
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Be not sad, etc.
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The birds with their sweet notes
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chearfully singing,
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Also will thee delight,
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contentment bringing:
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Whose pleasant Harmony
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from them Resounding,
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Still will delightful be,
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most sweetly sounding.
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Be not sad, etc.
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Though I my self am absent,
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and sometimes leave thee,
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To work thy discontent
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let nothing Grieve thee,
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But merry be sweet-heart
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till my Returning,
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Alone my dear thou art
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then cease thy mourning:
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For I will still be kind
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always to chear thee,
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And so to ease thy mind,
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I will be neer thee,
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FINIS. R.G.
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