William Shenstone: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The Shepherd's Song

William Shenstone

“The Shepherd's Song” as printed in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853).

William Shenstone: Collected Lyrics Text 1 1853 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from A First Series of Hymns and Songs, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

My banks they are furnished with bees,

Whose murmur invites one to sleep;

My grottoes are shaded with trees.

And my hills are white over with sheep.

I seldom have met with a loss,

Such health do my fountains bestow;

My fountains all bordered with moss,

Where the hare-bell and violet grow.

Verse 2

Not a pine in my grove is there seen,

But with tendrils of woodbine is bound;

Not a beech's more beautiful green,

But a sweet briar entwines it around.

Not my fields in the prime of the year

More charms than my cattle unfold;

Not a brook that is limpid and clear,

But it glitters with fishes of gold.

Credits

Written by William Shenstone

Words by William Shenstone. Historical text published in A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

A First Series of Hymns and Songs (1853), “The Shepherd's Song”

Every text in this 1853 collection is by Henry Formby (1816-1884), who died more than 140 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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