Fancys Knell

When lads were home from labour     At Abdon under Clee,     A man would call his neighbor     And both would send for me.     And where the light in lances     Across the mead was laid,     There to the dances     I fetched my flute and played.     Ours were idle pleasures,     Yet oh, content we were,     The young to wind the measures,     The old to heed the air;     And I to lift with playing     From tree and tower and steep     The light delaying,     And flute the sun to sleep.     The youth toward his fancy     Would turn his brow of tan,     And Tom would pair with Nancy     And Dick step off with Fan;     The girl would lift her glances     To his, and both be mute:     Well went the dances     At evening to the flute.     Wenlock Edge was umbered,     And bright was Abdon Burf,     And warm between them slumbered     The smooth green miles of turf;     Until from grass and clover     The upshot beam would fade,     And England over     Advanced the lofty shade.     The lofty shade advances,     I fetch my flute and play:     Come, lads, and learn the dances     And praise the tune to-day.     To-morrow, mores the pity,     Away we both must hie,     To air the ditty,     And to earth I.