When youth mature, to manhood grew

When youth mature, to manhood grew, Soon beauty touch'd my heart; From vein to vein love's light'ning flew, With pleasing, painful smart: My bosom dear content forsook, And sooth'd the soft dejection; The melting eye, the speaking look, Prov'd love and sweet affection.

Unus'd to arts which win the fair, What could a shepherd do? And to submit to sad despair, Was not the way to woo. At length I told the lovely maid, I hop'd she'd no objection To talk (while round her lambkins play'd) Of love and sweet affection.

A blush my Chloe's cheek bedeck'd, A blush devoid of guile; "And what from me can you expect?" She answered with a smile: "How many nymphs have been betray'd, "Through want of calm reflection! "Then don't my peace of mind invade, "With love and sweet affection."

Dear maid, I cry'd, mistrust me not, In wedlock's bands let's join; My kids, my kine, my herds, my cot, My soul itself is thine. To church I led the charming fair, To Hymen's kind protection; And now life's dearest joys we share, With love and sweet affection.