T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Country Lass
Anonymous(From Thomson’s Orpheus Caledonius, ii. 85; 1733) |
ALTHO’ I be but a Country Lass, | |
| Yet a lofty Mind I bear—O, | |
| And think my sell as good as those, | |
| That rich Apparel wear—O. | |
| Altho’ my Gown be hame spun Gray, | 5 |
| My skin it is as saft—O, | |
| As them that Satin Weeds do wear, | |
| And carry their heads alaft—O. | |
| What tho’ I keep my Father’s Sheep? | |
| The thing that must be done—O, | 10 |
| With Garlands of the finest Flowers | |
| To shade me frae the Sun—O. | |
| When they are feeding pleasantly, | |
| Where Grass and Flowers do spring—O, | |
| Then on a Flowry Bank at Noon, | 15 |
| I set me down and sing—O. | |
| My Paisly Piggy, corked with Sage, | |
| Contains my Drink but thin—O: | |
| No Wines do e’er my Brain enrage, | |
| Or tempt my Mind to sin—O; | 20 |
| My Country Curds, and wooden Spoon, | |
| I think them unco fine—O; | |
| And on a flowry Bank at Noon, | |
| I set me down and dine—O. | |
| Altho’ my Parents cannot raise | 25 |
| Great Bags of shining Gold—O, | |
| Like them whose Daughters, now-a-days, | |
| Like Swine are bought and sold—O; | |
| Yet my fair Body it shall keep | |
| And honest Heart within—O, | 30 |
| And for twice fifty thousand Crowns, | |
| I value not a Pin—O. | |
| I use nae Gums upon my Hair, | |
| Nor Chains about my Neck—O, | |
| Nor shining Rings upon my Hands, | 35 |
| My Fingers straight to deck—O; | |
| But for that Lad to me shall fa’, | |
| And I have Grace to wed—O, | |
| I’ll keep a Jewel worth them a’, | |
| I mean my Maidenhead—O. | 40 |
| If canny Fortune give to me, | |
| The Man I dearly love—O, | |
| Tho’ we want Gear, I dinna care, | |
| My hands I can improve—O; | |
| Expecting for a Blessing still, | 45 |
| Descending from above—O, | |
| Then we’ll embrace and sweetly kiss, | |
| Repeating Tales of Love—O. | |