History & Politics

The Faithful Shepherd

by Anonymous (English broadside ballads) c. 1540–1700

From English Broadside Ballads (TCP)

History & Politics

When Tommy became first a Lover,
his Nanny so fir'd ev'ry part,
That poor Tommy's eyes did discover
the Conquest she made of his heart:
Ah! Nanny, quoth he, be not cruel,
reverse that ill fate of your mind,
Who Nature ordain'd for a jewel,

should never be fair and unkind:
Ah! Nanny, quoth he &c,

Were all those plump smiling Graces,
that delicate supple white skin,
That seems to disoul in the Embraces,
and would force a Senick to Sin:
Were these my dear Nanny, bestow'd thee
to keep a perverse peevish mind;
Or to bless thy dear Tommy that loves thee,

ah! never be fair and unkind:
Were these &c.

The hopes of those Ivory Pillows,
to repose my poor head on at night,
Secures me from all Fortunes Billows,
or ought that can Nature affright:
There's nothing but Nanny can please me,
to Nanny my Soul is confin'd,
No, nothing but Nanny can ease me,

then Nanny dear Nanny be kind;
Then's nothing &c.

In Nannys dear sight I have anguish,
which Blushes proclaim in my face,
And out of her sight I do languish,
to think who possesses my place:
Ah! Nanny, no more let me leave thee,
but both be together confin'd,
And of all my fears undeceive me,

and for ever for ever be kind:
Ah! Nanny, &c.

Ah! Nanny, you told me you lov'd me,
and bid me no more to tomplain,
And when I have sigh'd have reprov'd me,
and kist me, and vow'd it a Game,
You told me that Fortune should never
dispoyl what your Soul had design'd,
That you would be Tommys for ever,

and for ever to Tommy be kind:
You told, &c.

Remember dear Nanny, you said it,
and call'd all the Gods to attest,
And blushing to think that you did it,
you laid your face close to my Breast:
Remember how dearly I blest ye,
and beg'd ne'r to alter your mind,
Remember how often you kist me,

and vow'd you would alwayes be kind:
Remember how &c,

But now cruel Nanny has left me,
and owns me no more for her own,
And of all my joys has bereft me,
and turn'd all my hopes to dispair:
That Nanny that once had so loving:
obliedging, so gentle a mind,
That Nanny of all Creatures moving,

Is now perjur'd, false, and unkind;
That Nanny, &c.

What tho' my dear Nanny be cruel,
and nothing her fancy can move,
Yet Nanny must still be my jewel,
and all that my Soul can love:
Perhaps 'tis no alter of Nature,
bu only for Reasons Confin'd,
So lovely so pritty a Creature,

can never prove false and unkind.

✦ ✦ ✦

To a new Scotch tune: or, There was a bonny young lad, &c. TCP B03408 (1685-1690?).

MLA

Anonymous (English broadside ballads). “The Faithful Shepherd.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-broadsides/471/.

Chicago

Anonymous (English broadside ballads). “The Faithful Shepherd.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-english-broadsides/471/.

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