Too true, they were shameless little rakes.

Oft would they return to their sweethearts, sporting musky girdles of sea-kelp, tasseled with green little pouches of grass, brimful of seed-pearls; and jingling their coin in the ears of the damsels, throw out inuendoes about the beautiful and bountiful mermaids: how wealthy and amorous they were, and how they delighted in the company of the brave gallants of Tupia.

Ah! at such heartless bravadoes, how mourned the poor little nymphs.

Deep into their arbors they went; and their little hearts burst like rose-buds, and filled the whole air with an odorous grief.

But when their lovers were gentle and true, no happier maidens haunted the lilies than they.