Strephon and Cloris:
OR,
The Coy Shepherd and Kind Shepherdess.
He's fearful that his Flocks should go astray,
And from her kind Embraces would away;
But she with loving Charms doth him so fetter,
That for to stay he finds it much the better:
When Flocks & Herds, & all concerns do fail,
Love must be satisfied, and will prevail.
To a pleasant New Play-house Tune; Or, Love will find out the way.
Behold dread Cupid, with his Golden Dart,
And bended Bow, doth pierce each Shepherds heart;
Witness here Strephon yields to Loves Essays,
His Head being Crown'd with never-fading Bays.
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AH! Cloris awake,
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it is all abroad day,
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If you sleep any longer
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our Flocks they will stray:
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Lye still my dear Shepherd,
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and do not rise yet,
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For it is a cold Windy morning,
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and besides it is wet.
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My Cloris make haste,
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for it is no such thing,
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Our time we do waste,
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for the Lark is on wing
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Besides I do fancy
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I hear the young Lambs,
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Cry, ba, ba, ba, ba,
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for the loss of their Damms.
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MY Shepherd I come,
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though I'm all over sorrow
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But I swear i'le not love you
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if you rise so tomorrow:
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For methinks it's unkind,
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thus early to rise,
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and not bid me good morrow,
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brings tears from my eyes.
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O hark, my dear Cloris,
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before thou shalt weep,
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I'le stay to embrace thee,
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neglecting my sleep:
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My Flocks they may wander,
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one hour, two, or three,
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But if I loose thy favour,
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I ruin'd shall be.
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I joy my dear Shepherd,
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to hear thee say so,
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It eases my heart of
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much sorrow and woe:
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And for thy reward
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I will give thee a Kiss,
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And then thou shalt taste
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of a true Lovers bliss.
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But Cloris behold how
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bright Phoebus his Beams,
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Invites us to go
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to the murmuring streams:
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I hear the brave Huntsman
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doth follow the cry,
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And makes the woods ring,
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yet how sluggish am I.
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The Hounds and the Huntsman,
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may follow the Chase,
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Whilst we enjoy pleasure
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in a far better place:
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Thou know'st my dear shepherd,
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there is no delight,
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Like Lovers Enjoyment,
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from morning till night.
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Alas my dear Cloris,
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what dost thou require,
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The care of my Flocks
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doth abate my desire:
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The Lambs are new Yeaned,
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and tender for Prey,
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And I fear the slye woolf
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she should bear them away.
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My Love do not fear it,
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the woolf he is fled,
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To take up his Lodging
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in his Mossy bed:
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Then let me embrace thee,
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whilst we do agree,
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And I promise to go,
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thou shalt after be free.
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Ah Cloris! thy words
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are so powerful with me,
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That I could be willing
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to tarry with thee:
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Therefore to content thee,
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one hour I will stay,
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But I vow by God Cupid
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I will then go away.
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Now I have my wishes,
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dear Shepherd we'l part,
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Although thou dost carry
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away my poor heart:
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I bless the great Gods,
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that to Lovers are kind,
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To bring us together,
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such bliss for to find.
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Then farewel dear Cloris,
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till I see thee again,
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For now I will haste to
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my Flocks on the Plain:
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Where I shall record
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thy true Love in such Rhimes
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For Shepherds to admire
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in succeeding times.
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