Kings and Queens of England with Other Poems — A Pastoral

A PASTORAL.

Oh!

tell me ye shepherds, tell me I pray, Have you seen the fair Jessie pass by this way?

You ne'er could forget her, if once you had seen, She's fair as the morning, she moves like a Queen.

My sheep are neglected, my crook's thrown aside, In pursuit of dear Jessie, sweet Jessie, my bride;

I hear nothing of her, no tidings can glean, To _see_ is to _know_ her, she moves like a Queen.

Say, have you seen her?

oh, pity my grief!

Speak _quick_, and impart me the needful relief;

You cannot forget her, if once you have seen, She's lovely as Venus, she moves like a Queen.

Have you not seen her?

--then listen I pray, Oh!

listen to what a poor shepherd can say In the praise of one ne'er so lovely was seen;

She's youthful as Hebe, she moves like a Queen.

She's fair as the Spring in the mild month of May, She's brilliant as June decked in flowerets so gay;

You ne'er could forget her if once you had seen, She's charming as Flora, she moves like a Queen.

Oh!

tell me not Damon, that yours can compare To Jessie, sweet Jessie, with beauty so rare;

With a face of such sweetness, so modest a mien, She's like morn in its freshness, she moves like a Queen.

You tell me your Sylvia is beautiful quite;

She may be, when Jessie is kept out of sight;

She is not to be mentioned with Jessie, I ween, Her voice is sweet music, she moves like a Queen.

Then name not your Sylvia with Jessie I pray, 'Tis comparing dark night with the fair light of day;

Sylvia's movements are clumsy, and awkwardly seen, But Jessie is graceful, she moves like a Queen.

Menalaus' fair wife, for beauty far famed, By the side of my Jessie is not to be named;

Paris ne'er had woo'd Helen, if Jessie he'd seen, She's chaste as Diana, she moves like a Queen.

Oh!

aid me, do aid me, ye shepherds, I pray!

The time is fast flying, no longer I'll stay;

You cannot mistake her, there's none like her seen, She's lovely as Venus, she moves like a Queen.

Do help me to find her, I'm wild with affright, The day passes swiftly, it soon will be night;

There's none to compare with her, none like her seen, _More_ lovely than Venus, she moves like a Queen.

THE JESSAMINE.