By Chance It Was

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By chance it was I met my love It did me much surprise Down by a shady myrtle grove Just as the sun did rise. The birds they sang right gloriously And pleasent was the air And there was non save she and i Among the flowers fair.

In dewy grass and green we walked She timid was and coy How can'st thou choose but pity me My pretty pearl, my joy How comes it that thou stroll this way? Sweet maiden tell me true Before bright phoebus' glittering ray Has supped the morning dew?

I go to tend the flocks I love The ewes and tender lambs That pasture by the myrtle grove That gambol by their dams There I enjoy a pure content At dawning of the day Then, hand in hand, we lovers went To see the flock at play.

And as we wended down the road I said to her, "sweet maid, Three years I in my place abode And three more must be stayed The three that I am bound so fast O fairest wait for me And when the weary years are past Then wedded we will be."

"three years are long, three times too long Too lengthy the delay" And then I answered in my song "hope wastes them quick away Where love is fervent, fain and fast And knoweth not decay There nimbly fleet the seasons past Accounted as one day."