Wit & humour > Gentle shepherd

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The GENTLE SHEPHERD.
P J 7 I E Joins.
Wi’ what a ftruggle maun I now impart
My father’s will to her that hads my heart!
I ken (he loes; and her faft faul will fink,
While it ftands trembling on the hated brink
Of difappointment. Heav’n fopport rrty fair, *
And let her comfort claim your tender care. ■
Her eyes are red 1
Enter PEGGY.
——My Peggy, why in tears ?
Smile as ye wont, allow nae room for fears:
Tho’ I’m nae mair a (hepherd, Yet, I’m thine.
Peg. I dare na think lae high ; I now repine
At the unhappy chance, that made nae me
A gentle match, or ftill a herd kept thee.
Wha can, withouten pain, Re frae the coaft
The (hip that bears his all like to be loft !
Like to be carry’d, by fome rover’s hand, j
Far frae his wifties, to fome diftant land !
Pat. Ne’er quarrel fate, while it wi’ me remains
To raife thee up, or ftill attend thefe plains.
My father has forbid our loves, I own :
But love’s fuperior to a parent’s frown.
I falfehood hate : come kifs thy cares away;
I ken to love, as weel as to obey.
Sir William’s generous ; leave the talk to me,
To make ft rift duty and truelove agree.
Peg. Speak on !—Speak ever thus, and ftill my grief:
But ftiort I dare to hope the fond relief.
New thoughts a gentler face will'foon infpire,
That wi’ nice air fwims round in filk attire ;
Then I, poor me ! wi’ fighs may ban my fate,
when the young laird’s nae mair my handfome Pate ;
Nae mair again to hear fweet tales expreft.
By tht blyth {hepherd that excell’d the reft :
Nae mair, alake! we’lFon the meadow play.
And lin half breathlefs round the rucks of hay ;
As aft-times I have fled from thee right fain,
And fa’n on purpofe that I might be tane.