No 'squire to be found
The neighbourhood round;
(For, under the rose,
I would rather choose those)
If your wives will permit ye,
Come here, out of pity,
To ease a poor lady,
And beg her a playday.
So may you be seen
No more in the spleen!
May Walmsley give wine
Like a hearty divine!
May Whaley disgrace
Dull Daniel's whey-face!
And may your three spouses
Let you lie at friends houses!
A PASTORAL DIALOGUE. 1728.
DERMOT, SHEELAH.
Who wont to weed the court of Gosford knight[1];
While each with stubbed knife remov’d the roots,
That rais'd between the stones their daily shoots;
As at their work they sate in counterview,
With mutual beauty smit, their passion grew.
Sing, heavenly Muse, in sweetly-flowing strain
The soft endearments of the nymph and swain.
DERMOT.
My love to Sheelah is more firmly fixt,
Than strongest weeds that grow these stones betwixt:
My spud these nettles from the stones can part;
No knife so keen to weed thee from my heart,
