The Longing Shepherdess: OR, LADY lie near me.  
To the Tune of, Lady lie near me, Or, the green garter.  
 

ALL in the Month of May,  
when all things blossom,  
As in my bed I lay  
sleep it grew loathsome:  
Up I rose and did walk  
over yond Mountains,  
Through Mountains & through Dales  
over Rocks and Fountains,  
I heard a voice to say  
Sweetheart come cheer me,  
Thou hast been long away  
Lady lie near me.   

Down by yond River side  
and surgins billows,  
A pleasant Grove I spied  
well set with willows;  
In it a Shepherdess  
singing most clearly,  
And still her note it was,  
Lady lie near me.  
Come away do not stay, etc.   

Swéet-heart thou stay'st too lon●  
Phoebus is watching,  
Aurora with her steed,  
is fast approaching:  
She doth her chariot mount  
which much do fear me,  
Each hour a year I count  
till you lie near me:  
Come away do not stay  
sweetheart and cheer me,  
Thou hast been long away  
Lady lie near me.   

Hymen keeps holiday  
Love take thy pleasure,  
Cupid hath thrown away  
his Bow and Quiver;  
Boreas doth gently blow  
lest I should fear him,  
Yet dare I not to stay  
alone to hear him.  
Come away, etc.   
 

DId not Adonis like  
sweetheart fly from me  
For careful I will be  
as doth become me,  
Both of my flock and thine  
whilst they are feeding  
Dear is my love to thee  
as is exceeding.  
Come away, etc.   

I may sing welladay  
my joys are ended,  
The hour of my approach  
is almost spended:  
My Parents will me miss,  
and Swains will iéer me,  
Thus still her note it was,  
Lady lie near me:  
Come away, etc.   

She had no sooner spoke  
but her true Lover,  
Near to her did approach  
her grief to smother:  
Hearing thy moan my sweet,  
I came to cheer thee,  
And will before I part,  
dearest lie near me:  
Be not sad, I am glad  
that I did hear thee,  
And what as can be had  
thousese have to cheer thee.   

No cost that I will spare,  
for to content thee,  
junkets the best that are,  
they shall be sent thee:  
The chiefest I can get,  
and best Canary,  
Then do not swéet-heart sit  
so solitary.  
Be not sad, etc.   

I hate to bear the mind  
of a base peasant,  
Thou still shalt find me kind  
Partridge and Pheasant,  
Butcher's meat is but gross  
fair that is dainty,  
For thee my loving Lass  
we will have plenty,  
Be not sad, etc.   

Adonis' like to prove  
that were so cruel,  
To one so dear I love  
the richest jewel;  
I do not estimate  
like thee my sweeting,  
I in my heart will hate  
for to be fleeting.  
Be not sad, etc.   

The time we'll pass away,  
Histories reading,  
Whilst our flock day by day,  
gently are feeding:  
And on my Oaten-Reed  
Love to requite thee,  
Care away I will play  
for to delight thee.  
Be not sad, etc.   

The birds with their sweet notes  
cheerfully singing,  
Also will thee delight,  
contentment bringing:  
Whose pleasant Harmony  
from them resounding,  
Still will delightful be,  
most sweetly sounding.  
Be not sad, etc.   

Though I myself am absent,  
and sometimes leave thee,  
To work thy discontent  
let nothing grieve thee,  
But merry be swéet-heart  
till my returning.  
Alone my dear thou art  
then cease thy mourning;  
For I will still be kind  
always to cheer thee.  
And so to cease thy mind,  
I will be near thee.   
FINIS. R. G.   

Printed for F. Co●es, T. Vere, and J. Wright.