1.
On a bank of Flowers in a summer day,
For summer lightly drest,
The youthful blooming Nelly lay
With love and sleep opprest;
When Willie, wand'ring thro' the wood,
Who for her favour oft had sued -
He gaz'd, he wish'd,
He fear'd, he blush'd,
And trembled where he stood.
2.
Her closed eyes, like weapons sheath'd,
Were seal'd in soft repose;
Her lips, still as she fragrant breath'd,
It richer dyed the rose;
The springing lilies, sweetly prest,
Wild-wanton kiss'd her rival breast:
He gaz'd, he wish'd,
He fear'd, he blush'd,
His bosom ill at rest.
3.
Her robes, light-waving in the breeze,
Her tender limbs embrace;
Her lovely form, her native ease,
All harmony and grace.
Tumultuous tides his pulses roll,
A faltering, ardent kiss he stole:
He gaz'd, he wish'd,
He fear'd, he blush'd,
And sigh'd his very soul.
4.
As flies the partridge from the brake
On fear-inspired wings,
So Nelly starting, half-awake,
Away affrighted springs.
But Willie follow'd - as he should;
He overtook her in the wood;
He vow'd, he pray'd,
He found the maid
Forgiving all, and good.

On a bank of Flowers in a summer day,
For summer lightly dressed,
The youthful blooming Nelly lay
With love and sleep oppressed;
When Willie, wandering through the wood,
Who for her favour often had sued -
He gazed, he wished,
He feared, he blushed,
And trembled where he stood.

Her closed eyes, like weapons sheathed,
Were sealed in soft repose;
Her lips, still as she fragrant breathed,
It richer dyed the rose;
The springing lilies, sweetly pressed,
Wild-wanton kissed her rival breast:
He gazed, he wished,
He feared, he blushed,
His bosom ill at rest.

Her robes, light-waving in the breeze,
Her tender limbs embrace;
Her lovely form, her native ease,
All harmony and grace.
Tumultuous tides his pulses roll,
A faltering, ardent kiss he stole:
He gazed, he wished,
He feared, he blushed,
And sighed his very soul.

As flies the partridge from the brake (thicket)
On fear-inspired wings,
So Nelly starting, half-awake,
Away affrighted springs.
But Willie followed - as he should;
He overtook her in the wood;
He vowed, he prayed,
He found the maid
Forgiving all, and good.