Four Spring Idylls

Winter's gone, the summer breezes
Breathe the shepherd's joys again,
Village scene no longer pleases,
Pleasures meet upon the plain;
Snows are fled that hung the bowers,
Buds to blossoms softly steal,
Winter's rudeness melts in flowers: -
Charmer, leave thy spinning wheel,
And tend the sheep with me.

Careless here shall pleasures lull thee,
From domestic troubles free;
Rushes for thy couch I'll pull thee,
In the shade thy seat shall be;
All the [flower-buds]1 will I get
Spring's first sunbeams do unseal,
Primrose, cowslip, violet: -
Charmer, leave thy spinning wheel,
And tend the [sheep]2 with me.

Cast away thy "twilly willy,"
Winter's warm protecting gown,
Storms no longer blow to chill thee;
Come with mantle loosely thrown,
Garments, light as gale's embraces,
That thy lovely shape reveal;
Put thou on thy airy dresses: -
Charmer, leave thy spinning wheel,
And tend the sheep with me.

Sweet to sit where brooks are flowing,
Pleasant spreads the gentle heat,
On the green's lap thyme is growing,
[Every]3 molehill forms a seat:
Fear not suns 'cause thou'rt so fair,
In the [thorn-bower]4 we'll conceal;
Ne'er a sunbeam pierces there: -
Charmer, leave thy spinning wheel,
And tend the [sheep]2 with me.