I. A PRETTY young maiden sat on the grass, Sing heigh—ho! sing heigh-ho! And by a blithe young shepherd did pass, In the summer morning so early. Said he, "My lass, will you go with me, My cot to keep, and my bride to be; Sorrow and want shall never touch thee, And I will love you rarely?" II. "O! no, no, no!" the maiden said, Sing heigh-ho! sing heigh—ho! And bashfully turn'd aside her head, On that summer morning so early! "My mother is old, my mother is frail, Our cottage it lies in yon green dale; I dare not list to any such tale, For I love my kind mother rarely." III. The shepherd took her lily-white hand, Sing heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! And on her beauty did gazing stand, On that summer morning so early. "Thy mother I ask thee not to leave, Alone in her frail old age to grieve; But my home can hold us all, believe— Will that not please thee fairly?" IV. "O! no, no, no! I am all too young, Sing heigh-ho! sing heigh-ho! I dare not list to a young man's tongue, On a summer morning so early." But the shepherd to gain her heart was bent; Oft she strove to go, but she never went; And at length she fondly blush'd consent— Heaven blesses true lovers so fairly. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO JOHN DONNE (2) by BEN JONSON EVENING IN ENGLAND by FRANCIS LEDWIDGE TALES OF A WAYSIDE INN: THE THIRD DAY: SCANDERBERG by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW ON A BUST OF DANTE by THOMAS WILLIAM PARSONS TO - (3) by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE LAMENT OF THE FLOWERS by JONES VERY |