THE MILK-MAID'S SONG 



Anglers, they be such honest, civil, quiet men ; in the mean 

 time will you drink a draught of Red-cow's milk? you shall 

 have it freely. 



Pise. No, I thank you, but I pray do us a courtesy that 

 shall stand you and your daughter in nothing, and yet we 

 will think ourselves still something in your debt ; it is but 

 to sing us a song, that was sung by your daughter, when 

 I last passed over this Meadow, about eight or nine days 

 since. 



MILK-W. What song was it, I pray ? Was it, ' Come 

 Shepherds deck your herds,' or, * As at noon Dulcinea rested ' : 

 or, ' Philida flouts me ' : or, * Chevy Chace ' ? or, * Johnny Arm- 

 strong ' ? or, * Troy Town ' ? 



Pise. No, it is none of those: it is a song, that your 

 daughter sung the first part, and you sung the answer 

 to it. 



MILK-W. O, I know it now, I learned the first part in my 

 golden age, when I was about the age of my poor daughter ; 

 and the latter part, which indeed fits me best now, but two 

 or three years ago, when the cares of the world began to take 

 hold of me : but you shall, God willing, hear them both, and 

 sung as well as we can, for we both love Anglers. Come 

 Maudlin, sing the first part to the gentlemen with a merry 

 heart, and I '11 sing the second, when you have done. 



THE MILK-MAID'S SONG 



Come live with me, and be my Love, 

 And we will all the pleasures prove 

 That valleys, groves, or hills, or field, 

 Or woods, and steepy mountains yield. 



Where we will sit upon the rocks, 

 And see the Shepherds feed our flocks, 

 By shallow rivers, to whose falls 

 Melodious birds sing madrigals. 



And I will make thee beds of roses, 

 And then a thousand fragrant posies, 

 A cap of flowers, and a kirtle 

 Embroider'd all with leaves of myrtle. 



49 



