By Chance It Was

	作词 : Traditional
	By chance it was i met my love
	It did me much surprise
	Down by a shady myrtle grove
	Just as the sun did rise.
	The birds they sang right gloriously
	And pleasent was the air
	And there was non save she and i
	Among the flowers fair.
	In dewy grass and green we walked
	She timid was and coy
	How can'st thou choose but pity me
	My pretty pearl, my joy
	How comes it that thou stroll this way?
	Sweet maiden tell me true
	Before bright phoebus' glittering ray
	Has supped the morning dew?
	I go to tend the flocks i love
	The ewes and tender lambs
	That pasture by the myrtle grove
	That gambol by their dams
	There i enjoy a pure content
	At dawning of the day
	Then, hand in hand, we lovers went
	To see the flock at play.
	And as we wended down the road
	I said to her, 'sweet maid,
	Three years i in my place abode
	And three more must be stayed
	The three that i am bound so fast
	O fairest wait for me
	And when the weary years are past
	Then wedded we will be.'
	'three years are long, three times too long
	Too lengthy the delay'
	And then i answered in my song
	'hope wastes them quick away
	Where love is fervent, fain and fast
	And knoweth not decay
	There nimbly fleet the seasons past
	Accounted as one day.'

	zuò cí : Traditional
	By chance it was i met my love
	It did me much surprise
	Down by a shady myrtle grove
	Just as the sun did rise.
	The birds they sang right gloriously
	And pleasent was the air
	And there was non save she and i
	Among the flowers fair.
	In dewy grass and green we walked
	She timid was and coy
	How can' st thou choose but pity me
	My pretty pearl, my joy
	How comes it that thou stroll this way?
	Sweet maiden tell me true
	Before bright phoebus' glittering ray
	Has supped the morning dew?
	I go to tend the flocks i love
	The ewes and tender lambs
	That pasture by the myrtle grove
	That gambol by their dams
	There i enjoy a pure content
	At dawning of the day
	Then, hand in hand, we lovers went
	To see the flock at play.
	And as we wended down the road
	I said to her, ' sweet maid,
	Three years i in my place abode
	And three more must be stayed
	The three that i am bound so fast
	O fairest wait for me
	And when the weary years are past
	Then wedded we will be.'
	' three years are long, three times too long
	Too lengthy the delay'
	And then i answered in my song
	' hope wastes them quick away
	Where love is fervent, fain and fast
	And knoweth not decay
	There nimbly fleet the seasons past
	Accounted as one day.'