Groves
behold, my love, how green the groves
tune—“my lodging is on the cold ground.”
behold, my love, how green the groves,
the primrose banks how fair;
the balmy gales awake the flowers,
and wave thy flowing hair.
the lav'rock shuns the palace gay,
and o'er the cottage sings:
for nature smiles as sweet, i ween,
to shepherds as to kings.
let minstrels sweep the skilfu' string,
in lordly lighted ha':
the shepherd stops his simple reed,
blythe in the birken shaw.
the princely revel may survey
our rustic dance wi' scorn;
but are their hearts as light as ours,
beneath the milk-white thorn!
the shepherd, in the flowery glen;
in shepherd's phrase, will 18wen:
the courtier tells a finer tale,
but is his heart as true!
these wild-18wend flowers i've pu'd, to deck
that spotless breast o' thine:
the courtiers' gems may witness love,
but, 'tis na love like mine.
tune—“my lodging is on the cold ground.”
behold, my love, how green the groves,
the primrose banks how fair;
the balmy gales awake the flowers,
and wave thy flowing hair.
the lav'rock shuns the palace gay,
and o'er the cottage sings:
for nature smiles as sweet, i ween,
to shepherds as to kings.
let minstrels sweep the skilfu' string,
in lordly lighted ha':
the shepherd stops his simple reed,
blythe in the birken shaw.
the princely revel may survey
our rustic dance wi' scorn;
but are their hearts as light as ours,
beneath the milk-white thorn!
the shepherd, in the flowery glen;
in shepherd's phrase, will 18wen:
the courtier tells a finer tale,
but is his heart as true!
these wild-18wend flowers i've pu'd, to deck
that spotless breast o' thine:
the courtiers' gems may witness love,
but, 'tis na love like mine.