Volume 5 — A Song by a Person of Honour. Set by Mr. John Weldon.

[Listen]

AT Noon in a sultry Summer’s Day, The brightest Lady of the May, Young Chloris Innocent and Gay, Sat Knotting in a shade: Each slender Finger play’d its part, With such activity and Art; As wou’d inflame a Youthful Heart, And warm the most decay’d. Her Fav’rite Swain by chance came by; She had him quickly in her Eye, Yet when the bashful Boy drew nigh, She wou’d have seem’d afraid, She let her Iv’ry Needle fall, And hurl’d away the twisted Ball; Then gave her Strephon such a call, As wou’d have wak’d the Dead. Dear gentle Youth is’t none but thee? With Innocence I dare be free; By so much Trust and Modesty, No Nymph was e’er betray’d, Come lean thy Head upon my Lap, While thy soft Cheeks I stroak and clap; Thou may’st securely take a Nap, Which he poor Fool, obey’d. She saw him Yawn, and heard him Snore, And found him fast a sleep all o’re; She sigh’d —— and cou’d no more, But starting up she said, Such Vertue shou’d rewarded be, For this thy dull Fidelity; I’ll trust thee with my Flocks, not me, Pursue thy Grazing Trade. Go milk thy Goats, and Sheer thy Sheep, And watch all Night thy Flocks, to keep; Thou shalt no more be lull’d asleep, By me mistaken Maid.