| When green as a river was the barley
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| Green as a river the rye
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| I waded deep and began to parley
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| With a youth whom I heard sigh
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| «I seek,» said he, «a lovely lady
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| A nymph as bright as a queen
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| Like a tree that drips with pearls her shady
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| Locks of hair were seen
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| And all the rivers became her flocks
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| Though their wool you cannot shear, —
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| Because of the love of her flowing locks. |
| .
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| The kingly Sun like a swain
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| Came strong, unheeding of her scorn
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| Bathing in deeps where she has lain
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| Sleeping upon her river lawn
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| And chasing her starry satyr train
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| She fled, and changed into a tree —
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| That lovely fair-haired lady. |
| .
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| And now I seek through the sere summer
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| Where no trees are shady. |
| » |