Why should I be bound to thee，
O my lovely Myrtle-tree？
Love， free Love， cannot be bound
To any tree that grows on ground.
O！ how sick and weary I
Underneath my Myrtle lie；
Like to dung upon the ground，
Underneath my Myrtle bound.
Oft my Myrtle sigh'd in vain
To behold my heavy chain：
Oft my Father saw us sigh，
And laugh'd at our simplicity.
So I smote him， and his gore
Stain'd the roots my Myrtle bore.
But the time of youth is fled，
And grey hairs are on my head.
O my lovely Myrtle-tree？
Love， free Love， cannot be bound
To any tree that grows on ground.
O！ how sick and weary I
Underneath my Myrtle lie；
Like to dung upon the ground，
Underneath my Myrtle bound.
Oft my Myrtle sigh'd in vain
To behold my heavy chain：
Oft my Father saw us sigh，
And laugh'd at our simplicity.
So I smote him， and his gore
Stain'd the roots my Myrtle bore.
But the time of youth is fled，
And grey hairs are on my head.