Page:Pocock's Everlasting Songster.djvu/124

 THF MILLER'S SON AND NANCY.

k NE Midfummer morning, when nature look'd

gay,

The birds full of fong, and the flocks full of play ; When earth feem'd to anAver the fmiles from above, And all things proclaim'd it the feafon of love ; My mother cried, Nancy, come hafte to the miil^; If the corn be not ground, you may fcoldif you will.

The freedom to ufe my tongue pleaf 'd me, no doubt A woman, alas! would be nothing without : I went tow'rds the mill without any delay, And conn'd o'er the words I determin'd to fay : But when I came near it, I found it flock ftill ; Blefs my ftars now ! cry'd I, huff them rarely I will.

The miller to market that inftant was gone ;

The work it was left to the care of his fon :

Now, though L can fcold well as any one can,

I thought 'twould be wrong to fcold the young man :

I faid, I'm furprii 'd you can ufe me fo ill ;

I muft have my corn ground, I muft, and I will.

Sweet maid, cry'd the youth, the fault is not mine; J^o corn in the town I'd grind fooner than thine : There's no one moie ready in plealing the fair ; The mill fhall go merrily round, I declare. But hark how the birds fmg, and fee how they bill ! I muft have a kiis n'rft, 1 muft, and I will.

My corn being done, I tow'rds home bent my way j He whifper'd he'd fomething ot moment to fay ; Infilled to hand me along the green mead, And there fwore he lov'd me, indeed, and indeed !

And

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