Shepherd, Nymph, Chorus Shepherd This mossy bank they pressed. Nymph That aged oak Did canopy the happy pair All night from the damp air. Chorus Here let us sit, and sing the words they spoke, Till the day, breaking, their embraces broke. Shepherd See, Love, the blushes of the morn appear, And now she hangs her pearly store, Robbed from the eastern shore In the cowslip's bell and roses rare; Sweet, I must stay no longer here! Nymph Those streaks of doubtful light usher not day, But show my sun must set; no morn Shall shine till thou return; The yellow planets and the grey Dawn shall attend thee on thy way. Shepherd If thine eyes gild my paths, they may forbear Their useless shine. Nymph My tears will quite Extinguish their faint light. Shepherd Those drops will make their beams more clear, Love's flames will shine in every tear. Chorus They kissed and wept, and from their lips and eyes, In a mixed dew, of briny sweet Their joys and sorrows meet; But she cries out. Nymph Shepherd, arise, The sun betrays us else to spies. Shepherd The winged hours fly fast whilst we embrace, But when we want their help to meet, They move with leaden feet. Nymph Then let us pinion time, and chase The day forever from this place. Shepherd Hark! Nymph Ay me! stay! Shepherd Forever: Nymph No! arise! We must be gone! Shepherd My nest of spice! Nymph My soul! Shepherd My paradise! Chorus Neither could say farewell, but through their eyes Grief interrupted speech with tears' supplies. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HELMSMAN by HILDA DOOLITTLE THREE GRAINS OF CORN; THE IRISH FAMINE by AMELIA BLANDFORD EDWARDS JIM BLUDSO [OF THE PRAIRIE BELLE] by JOHN MILTON HAY STANZAS; HOOD'S LAST POEM by THOMAS HOOD BY THE SEA by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI |