Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE CONTENTED SHEPHERD, by NICHOLAS ROWE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE CONTENTED SHEPHERD, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: As on a summer's day
Last Line: And a shepherd all thy own.
Subject(s): Shepherds & Shepherdesses


AS on a summer's day
In the greenwood shade I lay,
The maid that I loved,
As her fancy moved,
Came walking forth that way.

And as she passed by
With a scornful glance of her eye,
What a shame, quoth she,
For a swain must it be,
Like a lazy loon for to die!

And dost thou nothing heed,
What Pan our God has decreed;
What a prize to-day
Shall be given away,
To the sweetest shepherd's reed?

There's not a single swain
Of all this fruitful plain,
But with hopes and fears
Now busily prepares
The bonny boon to gain.

Shall another maiden shine
In brighter array than thine?
Up, up, dull swain
Tune thy pipe once again,
And make the garland mine.

Alas! my love, he cried,
What avails this courtly pride?
Since thy dear desert
Is written in my heart,
What is all the world beside?

To me thou art more gay
In this homely russet gray,
Than the nymphs of our green,
So trim and so sheen,
Or the brightest queen of May.

What though my fortune frown,
And deny thee a silken gown;
My own dear maid,
Be content with this shade
And a shepherd all thy own.





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