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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  236. I loved a Lass

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

George Wither. 1588–1667

236. I loved a Lass

I LOVED a lass, a fair one, 
  As fair as e’er was seen; 
She was indeed a rare one, 
  Another Sheba Queen: 
But, fool as then I was,         5
  I thought she loved me too: 
But now, alas! she ‘s left me, 
  Falero, lero, loo! 
 
Her hair like gold did glister, 
  Each eye was like a star,  10
She did surpass her sister, 
  Which pass’d all others far; 
She would me honey call, 
  She’d—O she’d kiss me too! 
But now, alas! she ‘s left me,  15
  Falero, lero, loo! 
 
Many a merry meeting 
  My love and I have had; 
She was my only sweeting, 
  She made my heart full glad;  20
The tears stood in her eyes 
  Like to the morning dew: 
But now, alas! she ‘s left me, 
  Falero, lero, loo! 
 
Her cheeks were like the cherry,  25
  Her skin was white as snow; 
When she was blithe and merry 
  She angel-like did show; 
Her waist exceeding small, 
  The fives did fit her shoe:  30
But now, alas! she ‘s left me, 
  Falero, lero, loo! 
 
In summer time or winter 
  She had her heart’s desire; 
I still did scorn to stint her  35
  From sugar, sack, or fire; 
The world went round about, 
  No cares we ever knew: 
But now, alas! she ‘s left me, 
  Falero, lero, loo!  40
 
To maidens’ vows and swearing 
  Henceforth no credit give; 
You may give them the hearing, 
  But never them believe; 
They are as false as fair,  45
  Unconstant, frail, untrue: 
For mine, alas! hath left me, 
  Falero, lero, loo!