Classic Poem

Colin a gentle shepherd swain,
With ev'ry virtue grac'd,
Upon the fairest of the plain
His fond affection plac'd.

Young Phyllis, beautiful and gay,
By all ador'd and lov'd,
Had stol'n the shepherd's heart away,
But mark how Phyllis prov'd.

Deaf and regardless to his prayer,
With scorn she from him flew;
She was unkind as she was fair,
And false as he was true.

Poor Colin, forc'd by her disdain,
To desarts wild retir'd,
Where oft he sigh'd, but sigh'd in vain
For her whom he admir'd.

Tho' other nymphs for Colin pin'd
Phyllis his love despis'd;
And to that passion was unkind
Which many would have priz'd.

But she, who had thus long deny'd
An humble, constant swain,
Phyllis, who had with wond'rous pride
Resisted all the plain.

Was vanquish'd by a coat of lace,
And by an outside won;
By flaxen wig and brazen face
Poor Phyllis was undone.

It chanc'd a splendid courtier came
To breathe the rural air,
Whose gay addresses did inflame
This too, too easy fair.

This courtier, artful to deceive,
So much on Phyllis gain'd,
All he could ask or she could give
He easily obtain'd.

But scarce had he the fair enjoy'd,
And gain'd her tender heart,
When, with her fond embraces cloy'd,
He slyly did depart.

Phyllis thus basely left alone
By him whom she ador'd,
To ev'ry echo made her moan,
And ev'ry pow'r implor'd.

But Ah! Alas! too late she found
Her darling so unkind,
For love had all their labours crown'd,
And left a pledge behind.

Of Colin now she seeks relief,
And to the desart flies
Where he had stol'n to vent his grief
And echo forth his cries.

But Colin, grown much wiser now,
Experienc'd by his smart,
Met Phyllis with an angry brow,
And baffl'd all her art.

His love was now to hatred turn'd,
His fondness to disdain;
And she who had his passion scorn'd
He scorn'd as much again.

Back to the groves he did repair,
And there in wedlock join'd
A nymph as faithless Phyllis fair,
But much more chaste and kind.

Poor Phyllis far remoter fled,
Her adverse fate to blame,
Where she conceal'd her guilty head,
But not her grief and shame.