Keys of love (1790)/The keys of love

For other versions of this work, see Keys of Love.

THE KEYS OF LOVE.

AS I went out in ev'ning clear,
down by a shady grove,
With hasty footsteps I went down,
there I spy'd my love.
As she lay sleepng on the grass,
most beautiful and fair,
You wou'd have sworn if you had view'd the lass,
the Queen of love was there.

I first convey'd my ruby lips,
unto her snow-white breast,
I next convey'd my quick'ning arms,
around her slender waist,
She wak'd out of her drowsy sleep,
like one been in surprize;
Her am'rous looks had stole my heart,
by the moving of her eyes.

She said, I'm ruin'd and undone,
and falsely I'm betray'd:
Is this the way you've ta'en to win,
a simple harmless maid?
You Goddess, she cry'd, you've wounded me,
wou'd you wrong a maid so young?
Her am'rous sayings stole my heart,
by the moving of her tongue.

I love my love, and I make no doubt,
but it's for love again;
And if she says she loves me not,
I'll laugh at her disdain.
If she be constant, I'll be true,
and so we will agree,
And if she says she loves me not,
I'll change as well as she.

There is twelve months into the year,
as I hear people say;
The merriest month, in all the year,
are the months of June and May,
These are the months I choose my love,
if it pleases her desire:
Young women carry the Keys of Love,
men's hearts are still on fire.