CUPID's PASTIME

It chanc'd of late a shepherd swain, That went to seek his straying sheep, Within a thicket on a plain Espied a dainty nymph asleep.

Her golden hair o'erspread her face; Her careless arms abroad were cast; Her quiver had her pillows place; Her breast lay bare to every blast.

The snepherd stood and gaz'd his fill; Nought durst he do; nought durst he say; Whilst chance, or else perhaps his will, Did guide the god of love that way.

The crafty boy thus sees her sleep, Whom if she wak'd he durst not see; Behind her closely seeks to creep, Before her nap should ended be.

There come, he steals her shafts away, And puts his own into their place; Nor dares he any longer stay, But, ere she wakes, hies thence apace.

Scarce was he gone, but she awakes, And spies the shepherd standing by: Her bended bow in haste she takes, And at the simple swain lets flye.

Forth flew the shaft, and pierc'd his heart, That to the ground he fell with pain: Yet up again forthwith he start, And to the nymph he ran amain.

Amazed to see so strange a sight, She shot, and shot, but all in vain; The more his wounds, the more his might, Love yielded strength amidst his pain.

Her angry eyes were great with tears, She blames her hand, she blames her skill; The bluntness of her shafts she fears, And try them on herself she will.

Take heed, sweet nymph, trye not thy shaft, Each little touch will pierce thy heart: Alas! thou know'st not Cupid's craft; Revenge is joy; the end is smart.

Yet try she will, and pierce some bare; Her hands were glov'd, but next to hand Was that fair breast, that breast so rare, That made the shepherd senseless stand.

That breast she pierc'd; and through that breast Love found an entry to her heart; At seeling of this new-come guest, Lord! how this gentle nymph did start.

She runs not now; she shoots no more; Away she throws both shaft and bow: She seeks for what she shunn'd before, She thinks the shepherd's haste too slow.

Though mountains meet not, lovers may: What other lovers do, did they: The god of love sate on a tree, And laught that pleasant sight to see.