Fugitive Poetry. 1600–1878/Dametus—His Jigge in Praise of his Love

Dametus—His Jigge in Praise of His Love.

Jolly shepherd, shepherd on a hill,  On a hill so merrily,  On a hill so cherrily,Fear not, shepherd, there to pipe thy fill,Fill every dale, fill every plain,Both sing and say, Love feels no pain.

Jolly shepherd, shepherd on a green,  On a green so merrily,  On a green so cherrily,Be thy voice shrill, be thy mirth seen,Heard to each swain, seen to each trull,Both sing and say, Love's joy is full.

Jolly shepherd, shepherd in the sun,  In the sun so merrily,  In the sun so cherrily,Sing forth thy songs, and let thy rhymes run,Down to the dales, to the hills above,Both sing and say, no life like Love!

Jolly shepherd, shepherd in the shade,  In the shade so merrily,  In the shade so cherrily,Joy in thy life, life of shepherd's trade,Joy in thy love, love full of glee,Both sing and say, sweet Love for me!

Jolly shepherd, here or there,  Here or there so merrily,  Here or there so cherrily,Or in thy chat, or at thy cheer,In every jigge, in every lay,Both sing and say, Love lasts for aye!