On a bank beside a willow

On a bank beside a willow,

Heav'n her cov'ring Earth her pillow,

Sad Aminta sighed alone.

From the cheerless dawn of morning

Till the dews of night returning

Singing thus she made her moan:

"Hope is banished,

Joys are vanished,

Damon my beloved is gone.

"Time, I dare thee to discover

Such a youth and such a lover,

Oh! so true and kind was he.

Damon was the pride of nature,

Charming in his ev'ry feature;

Damon lived alone for me.

Melting kisses,

Murm'ring blisses,

Who so lived and loved as we?

"Never shall we curse the morning,

Never bless the night returning

Sweet embraces to restore.

Never shall we both lie dying,

Nature failing, love supplying

All the joys he drained before;

Death come end me

To befriend me,

Love and Damon are no more."