'O LITTLE shepherdesses fresh and fair, <br />Say whither do you come so soft and rare? <br />Say, whither lies the land where you were born, <br />Where sweeter fruits than any do betide? <br />With radiant smiles your faces you adorn, <br />Yet neither gold nor silver is your pride, <br />I trow Love fashioned you with him to bide, <br />Angels you seem yet tattered raiment wear! ' <br /> 'We live upon a hill beside some trees; <br />Humble our cot, we sleep in tiny bed <br />Both one and all together at our ease <br />When homewards we our gentle flocks have led <br />At eventide; by nature we are fed <br />Day after day in flowery meadows fair.' <br />95 'Your loveliness might well indeed make moan, <br />Which only among hills and vales is seen, <br />Though the proud cities of the world would own <br />It worthy to hold honourably, I ween! <br />Poor lassies, had you not far happier been <br />Out of these woods in more refinèd air? ' <br /> 'Nay, we are well contented with our fate, <br />And, when we tend our flocks in pastures bright, <br />Merrier we are than you who go in state <br />To revel in your chamber shuttered tight; <br />Riches we do not crave nor gold delight, <br />But weave gay songs and garlands for our hair! ' <br /> O Ballad, were I now as long ago, <br />I'd be a shepherd lad upon a hill; <br />I'd mark these lassies' goings, but none should know; <br />I'd seek their company with a right good will; <br />For ever we'd be calling 'Jack' and 'Jill,' <br />And wheresoe'er they went I'd follow there.<br /><br />Franco Sacchetti<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ballata/
