Classic Poem

1.

Tom and Will were Shepherds twain,
Who Liv'd and Lov'd together,
Till Fair Pastora crost the Plain,
Alack, why came she thither!
Pastora's Fair and Lovely Locks
Set both their Hearts on fire.
Although they did divide their Flocks,
They had but one desire.

2.

Tom came of a gentile Race,
By Father and by Mother,
Will was Noble, but alas,
He was a Younger Brother.
Neither of them no Huntsman was
No Fisher, nor no Fowler;
Tom was stil'd the prop'rer Lad,
But Will the better Bowler.

3.

Tom wou'd Drink her Health and Swear,
The Nation cou'd not want her;
Will wou'd take her by the Ear,
And with his Voice Enchant her.
Tom was always in her sight,
And ne'er forgot his Duty;
Will was Witty, and cou'd write
Sweet Sonnets on her Beauty.

4.

Which of them she Loved most,
Or whether she Lov'd either;
Twas thought they found it to their cost,
That she indeed Lov'd neither.
And yet she was so sweet a She,
So comly of behaviour;
That Tom thought He, and Will thought He,
Was greatest in her Favour.

5.

Pastora was a Beauteous Lass,
Of a charming sprightly Nature,
Divinely Good and Kind she was,
And smil'd on ev'ry Creature.
Of Favours she was provident,
But yet not over sparing,
She gave no loose Encouragement,
Yet kept Men from despairing.

6.

Now flying Fame had made Report
Of Fair Pastora's Beauty,
That she must needs unto the Court,
There to perform her Duty.
Unto the Court Pastora's gone,
(It were no Court without her,)
The Queen herself, with all her Train,
Had none so Fair about her.

7.

Tom hung his Dog, and flung away
His Sheep-hook and his Wallet;
Will broke his Pipes, and curst the day
That e'er he made a Ballet;
Their Nine-pins and their Bowls they broke,
Their Tunes were turn'd to Tears,
'Tis time for me to make an End,
Let them go shake their Ears.