What shepherd or nymph of the grove - Arne, Thomas

♪

"Probably written for performance at Vauxhall. The author of the text is unknown, but is reminiscent of the style of William Shenstone"

⌛ Period → Classical ◈ Genre → Arias ♬ Voicing → solo high ¶ Language → English

Parts 1

Instruments Basso continuo, violin

Pages 4

CPDL # 87088

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2025-10-09

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

What shepherd or nymph of the grove Can blame me for dropping a tear, Or lamenting aloud as I rove, Since Phoebe no longer is here? My flocks, if at random they stray, What wonder? since she's from the plain; Her hand they were wont to obey; She rul'd both the sheep and the swain. Can I ever forget how we stray'd To the foot of yon neighbouring hill, To the bow'r we had built in the shade, Or the river that runs by the mill? There, sweet by my side as she lay And heard the fond stories I told, How sweet was the thrush from the spray, Or the bleating of lambs from the fold. How oft I would spy out a charm, Which before had been hid from my view; And while arm was enfolded in arm, My lips to her lips how they grew; How long the sweet contest would last, 'Til the hour of retirement and rest; What pleasures and pains each had past, Who longest had lov'd and who best. No changes of place or of time I felt, when my fair one was near; Alike was each weather and clime, Each session that chequer'd the year. In winter's rude lap did we freeze? Did we melt on the bosom of May? Each morn brought contentment and ease; We rose up to work or to play. She was all my fond wishes could ask, She had all the kind gods could impart; She was nature's most beautiful task, The despair and the envy of art. There, all that was worthy to prize In all that was lovely was dress'd; For the graces were thron'd in her eyes And the virtues all lodg'd in her breast.