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JUAN MELENDEZ VALDES.
THE DISDAINFUL SHEPHERDESS.
If, as thou sayst, thou lovest me well,
Dear girl, those scornfulnesses cease;
For love can ne'er in union dwell
With such asperities.
Show sharp disdain, to plight if e'er
Another proffers thee his troth;
To two at once to listen fair
Is an offence to both
Let one be chosen, so to prove
How great your happiness may be;
Thou calmly to enjoy his love,
And he to love thee free;
Above all maids to extol thee most;
And thou to tenderness incline,
To yield repaying him the boast
His love gives forth for thine.
Reserve and rigour to preside
In love, is like the ice in spring,
That robs fair May of all its pride,
The flocks of pasturing:
