Close ×

Search EBBA

Advanced Search

EBBA 31641

University of Glasgow Library - Euing
Ballad XSLT Template
Amintas and Claudia:
Or, The Merry Shepherdess,
Shewing whateve[r] he from Vertue did not draw,
She circumvented with a ha, ha, ha,
To the Tune, called, Calm was the Evening, and Clear was the Skie.

CAlm was the Evening and clear was the Sky
when the new budding flowers do spring,
When all alone went Amintas and I,
to hear the sweet Nightingals sing;
I sate and he laid him down by me,
and scarcely his breath he could draw,
But when with a fear,
He began to draw near,
He was dasht with a ha, ha, ha, ha ha, ha,
ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

He blusht to himself, and lay still for a while
and his modesty curbd his desire,
But strait I convincd all his fears with a smile
and added new flames to his fire:
Ah Silvia said he, thou art cruel,
to keep thy poor lover in awe,
And once more he prest,
His hands to my breast,
But was dasht with a, etc.

I know twas his passion which caused all his fear
and therefore I pittied his case,
I whispered him softly, there was no body near,
and I laid my cheek close to his face:
But as he grew bolder and bolder,
a Shepherd came by us and saw,
And just as our bliss,
Began with a kiss.
He burst out, etc.

Come my own dear, lets retire a while,
and hasten us down to the Grove,
Wherein some shade:
That nature hath made,
Wel make a rehearsal of love,
And when with love tales we are tired,
and occasion does bid us withdraw,
We then from our seat,
Will make a retreat,
And laugh out, etc.

I Having consented, away we did go,
and found out the thick of the Wood;
But when we came there,
I began for to fear,
His meaning portended no good:
My beauty likewise he would oftentimes praise
for the rarest thar ever he saw,
And there he would skip,
From my hand to my lip.
but was dasht with a ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,
ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,

Sometimes he woud sigh, and somtimes he woud weep
and pray me to pitty his case;
But I found out by that
What he would be at,
His meaning I read in his face;
I bid him desist and give over his suit,
For I told him my Will was a law,
And if he were pleasd
To have his pain easd,
He must laugh. etc.

You know said Amintas how long I have lovd,
and ever restrain my desire,
And now with your scorn,
Which cannot be born,
You seek to extinguish my fire;
My vertue will justifie all that I do,
to keep you at distance and awe:
And pour loose desire,
Will sooner expire,
Then mirth, etc.

He sat like a Mute, and was still for a while,
consulting what answer to make,
When all in bast,
He imbraced my Wast,
And no more my denyals would take.

He vowd though my heart it were frozen,
his indeavor hed use, it to thaw;
If the heat of your blood,
Coud do any good.
Which made, etc.

I found that his passion began to Rebel,
and Reason no more could prevail,
Thought I to myself,
I am now on a shelf.
And know not which way for to sail;
But if by my Policy I can get off,
and my honor preserve without flaw,
Ile ingage me no more,
On such dangerous shore,
But at home, etc.

I used some perswasions that Evening was nigh,
for the Sun it began to decline,
And fearing some Swain,
Of the Neighboring plain,
Might come for to water his Kine;
I prays him return and walk softly along,
when twas dark id submit to his law,
Where in my own Bower,
For the space of an hour
He shoud kiss, etc.

His thoughts being transported with joy, he conceivd
nere feard, but my promise id keep
But instead of a Wench,
He sonnd such a Trench.
As charmd all his sences a sleep:
The vertue whereof through his vitals disperst
and his faculties purer did draw;
And when I had done,
Away I did run,
And laught out with a ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.


London, Printed for W. Thackeray, T. Passenger, and W. Whitwood.

View Raw XML