The SPELL.
25
Afield I went, amid the morning dew,To milk my kine (for so should huswives do)Thee first I spy'd, and the first swain we see,In spite of fortune shall our true-love be;See, Lubberkin, each bird his partner take, 45And can'st thou then thy sweetheart dear forsake? With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground,And turn me thrice around, around, around.
Last May-day fair I search'd to find a snail,That might my secret lover's name reveal; 50Upon a gooseberry bush a snail I found,For always snails near sweetest fruit abound.I seiz'd the vermin, home I quickly sped,And on the hearth the milk-white embers spread.Slow crawl'd the snail, and if I right can spell, 55In the soft ashes mark'd a curious L: Oh, may this wondrous omen lucky prove!For L is found in Lubberkin and Love. With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground,And turn me thrice around, around, around. 60
Two hazle nuts I threw into the flame,And to each nut I gave a sweet—heart's name.This with the loudest bounce me sore amaz'd,That in a flame of brightest colour blaz'd.As blaz'd the nut so may thy passion grow, 65For 'twas thy nut that did so brightly glow.[1] With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground,And turn me thrice around, around, around.
As
