I Loved a Lass / George Wither

A Love Sonnet

I loved a lass, a fair one,
    As fair as e'er was seen;
She was indeed a rare one,
    Another Sheba Queen.
But, fool as then I was,
    I thought she loved me too;
But now, alas! sh' 'as left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

Her hair like gold did glister,
    Each eye was like a star;
She did surpass her sister,
    Which pass'd all others far.
She would me honey call;
    She'd, O she'd kiss me too;
But now, alas! sh' 'as left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

In summer time to Medley,
    My love and I would go;
The boatmen there stood ready,
    My love and I to row.
For cream there would we call,
    For cakes, and for prunes too;
But now, alas! sh' 'as left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

Many a merry meeting
    My love and I have had;
She was my only sweeting,
    She made my heart full glad,
The tears stood in her eyes,
    Like to the morning dew;
But now, alas! sh' 'as left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

And as abroad we walked,
    As lovers' fashion is,
Oft as we sweetly talked
    The sun should steal a kiss.
The wind upon her lips
    Likewise most sweetly blew;
But now, alas! sh' 'as left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

Her cheeks were like the cherry,
    Her skin was white as snow;
When she was blithe and merry,
    She angel-like did show;
Her waist exceeding small,
    The fives did fit her shoe;
But now, alas! sh' 'as left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

In summer time or winter
    She had her heart's desire;
I still did scorn to stint her
    From sugar, sack, or fire;
The world went round about,
    No cares we ever knew;
But now, alas! sh' 'as left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

As we walked home together
    At midnight through the town,
To keep away the weather
    O'er her I'd cast my gown.
No cold my love should feel,
    Whate'er the heavens could do;
But now, alas! sh' 'as left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

Like doves we would be billing,
    And clip and kiss so fast;
Yet she would be unwilling
    That I should kiss the last.
They're Judas-kisses now,
    Since that they proved untrue;
For now, alas! sh' 'as left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

To maidens' vows and swearing
    Henceforth no credit give;
You may give them the hearing,
    But never them believe.
They are as false as fair,
    Unconstant, frail, untrue;
For mine, alas! has left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

'Twas I that paid for all things,
    'Twas others drank the wine;
I cannot now recall things,
    Live but a fool to pine.
'Twas I that beat the bush,
    The bird to others flew;
For she, alas! hath left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

If ever that dame Nature,
    For this false lover's sake,
Another pleasing creature
    Like unto her would make,
Let her remember this,
    To make the other true;
For this, alas! hath left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

No riches now can raise me,
    No want make me despair;
No misery amaze me,
    Nor yet for want I care.
I have lost a world itself,
    My earthly heaven, adieu,
Since she, alas! hath left me,
    Falero, lero, loo.

~~
George Wither (1588-1667)
from The Poetry of George Wither, 1902

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

George Wither biography

"I Loved a Lass" read by Tom O'Bedlam. Courtesy YouTube.