24
FOURTH PASTORAL.
Return, my Lubberkin, these ditties hear;Spells will I try, and spells shall ease my care. With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground, And turn me thrice around, around, around.
When first the year, I heard the cuckow sing, 15And call with welcome note the budding spring, I straitway set a running with such haste, Deb'rah that won the smock scarce ran so fast. 'Till spent for lack of breath, quite weary grown, Upon a rising bank I sat adown, 20 Then doff'd[1] my shoe, and by my troth, I swear, Therein I spy'd this yellow frizzled hair, As like to Lubberkin's in curl and hue, As if upon his comely pate it grew. 24 With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground, And turn me thrice around, around, around.
At eve last Midsummer no sleep I sought, But to the field a bag of hemp-seed brought, I scatter'd round the seed on ev'ry side, And three times in a trembling accent cry'd, 30This hemp-seed with my virgin hand I sow,Who shall my true-love be, the crop shall mow. I strait look'd back, and if my eyes speak truth, With his keen scythe behind me came the youth. With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground. And turn me thrice around, around, around. 36
Last Valentine, the day when birds of kind Their paramours with mutual chirpings find; I rearly rose, just at the break of day, Before the sun had chas'd the stars away; 40
- ↑ Line 21. Doff and don, contracted from the words do off and do on.
A field
