Wit & humour > Gentle shepherd

The GENTLE SHE PH E R D. 37,
The fweeteft fruits that hing upon the tree.
Are far inferior to a kifs of thee.
Peggy.
But Patrick for fome wicked end may fleech.
And lambs fhould tremble when the foxes preach.
I darna flay, ye jocker, let me gang;
Anither lafs may gar ye change your fang, C
Your thoughts may flit, and I may thole the wrang. j
P A T I E.
Sooner a mother {hall her fondnefs drap.
And wrang the bairn fits finding in her lap;
The Sun {hall change, the Moon to change {hall cealc j
The gaits to climb,—the (beep to yield the fleece:
Ere ought by me be either faid or doon.
Shall flcaith our love, I fwear by all aboon.
Peggy,
Then keep your aith: but mony lads will fwear.
And be manfworn to twa in haf-a-year.
Now I believe ye like me wonder weel;
But if a fairer face your heart ftiould fteal.
Your Meg, forfaken, bootlefs might relate
How {he was dauted anes by faithlefs Pate.
P A T I E.
I’m fure I canna change, ye needna fear,
Tho’ we’re but young, I’ve loo’d you moqy a year,
I mind it weef, when thou cou’dft hardly gang.
Or lifp out words, I choos’d you frac the thrang
Of a’ the bairns, and led thee by the hand,
Aft to the Tanfy-know, or Ra(hy-ftrand.
Thou finding by my fide. 1 took delyte
To pou the rafhes green, with roots fae whyte.
Of which, as well as my young fancy cou’d.
For thee I pletthe flow’ry belt and fngod.
Peggy,