I'll lay me down on the green sward, Mid yellowcups and speedwell blue, And pay the world no more regard, But be to Nature leal and true. Who break the peace of hapless man But they who Truth and Nature wrong? I'll hear no more of evil's plan, But live with Nature and her song. Where Nature's lights and shades are green, Where Nature's place is strewn with flowers. Where strife and care are never seen, There I'll retire to happy hours, And stretch my body on the green, And sleep among the flowers in bloom, By eyes of malice seldom seen, And dream upon the days to come. I'll lay me by the forest green, I'll lay me on the pleasant grass; My life shall pass away unseen; I'll be no more the man I was. The tawny bee upon the flower, The butterfly upon the leaf, Like them I'll live my happy hour, A life of sunshine, bright and brief. In greenwood hedges, close at hand, Build, brood, and sing the little birds, The happiest things in the green land, While sweetly feed the lowing herds, While softly bleat the roving sheep. Upon the green grass will I lie, A Summer's day, to think and sleep. Or see the clouds sail down the sky. TO ISABEL Arise, my Isabel, arise! The sun shoots forth his early ray, The hue of love is in the skies, The birds are singing, come away! O come, my Isabella, come, With inky tendrils hanging low; Thy cheeks like roses just in bloom, That in the healthy Summer glow. That eye it turns the world away From wanton sport and recklessness; That eye beams with a cheerful ray, And smiles propitiously to bless. O come, my Isabella, dear! O come, and fill these longing arms! Come, let me see thy beauty here, And bend in worship o'er thy charms. O come, my Isabella, love! My dearest Isabella, come! Thy heart's affection, let me prove, And kiss thy beauty in its bloom. My Isabella, young and fair, Thou darling of my home and heart, Come, love, my bosom's truth to share, And of its being form a part. THE SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER How sweet is every lengthening day, And every change of weather, When Summer comes, on skies blue grey, And brings her hosts together, Her flocks of birds, her crowds of flowers, Her sunny-shining water! I dearly love the woodbine bowers, That hide the Shepherd's Daughter-- In gown of green or brown or blue, The Shepherd's Daughter, leal and true. How bonny is her lily breast! How sweet her rosy face! She'd give my aching bosom rest, Where love would find its place. While earth is green, and skies are blue, And sunshine gilds the water, While Summer's sweet and Nature true, I'll love the Shepherd's Daughter-- Her nut brown hair, her clear bright eye, My daily thought, my only joy.