A Pastoral.

Oh! tell me ye shepherds, tell me I pray,     Have you seen the fair Jessie pass by this way?     You ne'er could forget her, if once you had seen,     She's fair as the morning, she moves like a Queen.     My sheep are neglected, my crook's thrown aside,     In pursuit of dear Jessie, sweet Jessie, my bride;     I hear nothing of her, no tidings can glean,     To see is to know her, she moves like a Queen.     Say, have you seen her? oh, pity my grief!     Speak quick, and impart me the needful relief;     You cannot forget her, if once you have seen,     She's lovely as Venus, she moves like a Queen.     Have you not seen her? - then listen I pray,     Oh! listen to what a poor shepherd can say     In the praise of one ne'er so lovely was seen;     She's youthful as Hebe, she moves like a Queen.     She's fair as the Spring in the mild month of May,     She's brilliant as June decked in flowerets so gay;     You ne'er could forget her if once you had seen,     She's charming as Flora, she moves like a Queen.     Oh! tell me not Damon, that yours can compare     To Jessie, sweet Jessie, with beauty so rare;     With a face of such sweetness, so modest a mien,     She's like morn in its freshness, she moves like a Queen.     You tell me your Sylvia is beautiful quite;     She may be, when Jessie is kept out of sight;     She is not to be mentioned with Jessie, I ween,     Her voice is sweet music, she moves like a Queen.     Then name not your Sylvia with Jessie I pray,     'Tis comparing dark night with the fair light of day;     Sylvia's movements are clumsy, and awkwardly seen,     But Jessie is graceful, she moves like a Queen.     Menalaus' fair wife, for beauty far famed,     By the side of my Jessie is not to be named;     Paris ne'er had woo'd Helen, if Jessie he'd seen,     She's chaste as Diana, she moves like a Queen.     Oh! aid me, do aid me, ye shepherds, I pray!     The time is fast flying, no longer I'll stay;     You cannot mistake her, there's none like her seen,     She's lovely as Venus, she moves like a Queen.     Do help me to find her, I'm wild with affright,     The day passes swiftly, it soon will be night;     There's none to compare with her, none like her seen,     More lovely than Venus, she moves like a Queen.