Old Songs

Edmund Spenser, George Wither,

Edwin Austin Abbey, and Alfred Parsons

A LOVE SONG.

BY GEORGE WITHER.

I lov’d a lasse, a faire one,
 As faire as e’er was seene;
 She was, indeed, a rare one,
 Another Sheba queen;
But, foole, as then I was,
 I thought she lov’d me too;
 But, now, alasse! sh’as left me,
 Falero, lero, loo.
Her haire, like gold, did glister;
 Each eye was like a starre;
 She did surpasse her sister,
 Which past all others farre:

She would me hony call:
 She’d, oh, she’d kisse me too!
 But, now, alasse! sh’as left me,
 Falero, lero, loo.

In summer-time, to Medley
 My love and I would goe—
 The boatmen there stood readie
 My love and I to rowe;
 For creame there would we call,
 For cakes, and for prunes too;
 But, now, alasse! sh’as left me,
 Falero, lero, loo.
Many a merry meeting
 My love and I have had:
 She was my onely sweeting;
 She made my heart full glad:
 The teares stood in her eyes,
 Like to the morning-dew;
 But, now, alasse! sh’as left me,
 Falero, lero, loo.
And as abroad we walked,
 As lovers’ fashion is,
 Oft, as we sweetly talked,
 The sun would steale a kisse;
 The winde upon her lips
 Likewise most sweetly blew;
 But, now, alasse! sh’as left me,
 Falero, lero, loo.
Her cheekes were like the cherrie,
 Her skin as white as snow;
 When she was blyth and merrie,
 She angel-like did show;
 Her wast exceeding small,
 The fives did fit her shoo;
 But, now, alasse! sh’as left me,
 Falero, lero, loo.
In summer-time or winter
 She had her heart’s desire;
 I stil did scorne to stint her
 From sugar, sacke, or fire:
 The world went round about;
 No cares we ever knew;
 But, now, alasse! sh’as left me,
 Falero, lero, loo.
As we walked home together,
 At midnight, through the towne,
 To keepe away the weather,
 O’re her I’d cast my gowne;
 No colde my love should feele,
 Whate’er the heavens could doe;
 But, now, alasse! sh’as left me,
 Falero, lero, loo.

Like doves we would be billing,
 And clip and kisse so fast,
 Yet she would be unwilling
 That I should kisse the last:
 They’re Judas kisses now,
 Since that they prov’d untrue;
 For, now, alasse! sh’as left me,
 Falero, lero, loo.