Volume 5 — A SONG.
Reading edition
[Listen]
WHEN gay Philander left the Plain, The Love, the Life of ev’ry Swain; His Pipe the mournful Strephon took, By some sad Bank and murm’ring Brook: Whilst list’ning Flocks forsook their Food, And Melancholy by him stood; On the cold Ground himself he laid, And thus the Mournful Shepherd play’d. Farewel to all that’s bright and gay, No more glad Night and chearing Day; No more the Sun will gild our Plain, ’Till the lost Youth return again: Then every pensive Heart that now, With Mournful Willow shades his Brow; Shall crown’d with chearful Garlands sing, And all shall seem Eternal Spring. Say, mighty Pan, if you did know, Say all ye rural Gods below; ’Mongst all Youths that grac’d your Plain, So gay so beautiful a Swain: In whose sweet Air and charming Voice, Our list’ning Swains did all Rejoyce; Him only, O ye Gods! restore Your Nymphs, and Shepherds ask no more.
