bonny little bunch of rushes o

Early one summers morning abroad as i did walk for sport.
Down by a pleasant arbour where lovers of times did resort
o there i spied a fair maid to whom my mind has gone astray
with a bunch of rushes in her hand
which she had gathered by the way
chorus
o the bonny little bunch of rushes the neat little bunch of rushes o
2 i gently stepped up to her and embraced her most tenderly
she kindly did rebuke me and said kind sir dont be so free.
dont think for to ill use me because i am so poor and low
dont break my bunch of rushes but loose your hold and let me go
chorus
3 my dear i,ll not ill use you nor i mean to you no injury
come sit you down beside me by yon green and shady tree
and the lovely larks and linnets were witness to our tale of love
to you i will prove constant i swear by all the powers above   
chorus
4 So modestly she gave consent and on the ground we both sat down
for fear of any moisture she spread beneath her cambric gown
and the lovely larks and linnets were witness till our love was oer
she said kind sir dont tease me or break my bunch of rushes more
Chorus
coolected from robert barratt piddletown dorset by hammond brothers