First Love.A Ballad[8].Ah me! how hard the task to bearThe weight of ills we know!But harder still to dry the tear,That mourns a nameless we.If by the side of Lucy's wheelI sit to see her spin,My head around begins to reel,My heart to beat within.Or when on harvest hollidayI lead the dance along,If Lucy chance to cross my way,So sure she leads me wrong,If I attempt the pipe to play,And catch my Lucy's eye,The trembling musick dies away,And melts into a sigh.Where'er I go, where'er I turn,If Lucy there be found,I seem to shiver, yet I burn,My head goes swimming round.I cannot bear to see her smile,Unless she smile on me;And if she frown, I sigh the while,But know not whence it be.Ah, what have I to Lucy doneTo cause me so much stir?From rising to the setting sunI sigh, and think of her.In vain I strive to join the throngIn social mirth and ease;Now lonely woods I stray among,For only woods can please.Ah, me! this restless heart I fearWill never be at rest,'Till Lucy cease to live, or tearHer image from my breast.
Ah me! how hard the task to bearThe weight of ills we know!But harder still to dry the tear,That mourns a nameless we.
If by the side of Lucy's wheelI sit to see her spin,My head around begins to reel,My heart to beat within.
Or when on harvest hollidayI lead the dance along,If Lucy chance to cross my way,So sure she leads me wrong,
If I attempt the pipe to play,And catch my Lucy's eye,The trembling musick dies away,And melts into a sigh.
Where'er I go, where'er I turn,If Lucy there be found,I seem to shiver, yet I burn,My head goes swimming round.
I cannot bear to see her smile,Unless she smile on me;And if she frown, I sigh the while,But know not whence it be.
Ah, what have I to Lucy doneTo cause me so much stir?From rising to the setting sunI sigh, and think of her.
In vain I strive to join the throngIn social mirth and ease;Now lonely woods I stray among,For only woods can please.
Ah, me! this restless heart I fearWill never be at rest,'Till Lucy cease to live, or tearHer image from my breast.