Sitting alone (as one forsook),
Close by a silver-shedding brook,
With hands held up to love I wept;
And after sorrows spent, I slept.
Then in a vision I did see
A glorious form appear to me:
A virgin's face she had; her dress
Was like a sprightly Spartaness;
A silver bow, with green silk strung,
Down from her comely shoulders hung;
And as she stood, the wanton air
Dandled the ringlets of her hair;
Her legs were such Diana shows,
When tucked up she a hunting goes,
With buskins shortened to descry
The happy dawning of her thigh,
Which when I saw I made access
To kiss that tempting nakedness;
But she forbad me with a wand
Of myrtle she had in her hand,

And, chiding me, said, "Hence, remove,
Herrick, thou art too coarse to love.'