HERRICK.

CORINNA'S GOING A-MAYING.

GET up, get up for shame! the blooming Morn
Upon her wings presents the God unshorn!
See how Aurora throws her fair
Fresh-quilted colours through the air!—
Get up, sweet slug-a-bed! and see
The dew bespangling herb and tree.
Each flower has wept and bow'd toward the east
Above an hour since, yet you not dress'd !—
Nay, not so much as out of bed,

When all the birds have matins said,

And sung their thankful hymns: 'tis sin-
Nay, profanation, to keep in,

Whereas a thousand virgins on this day
Spring sooner than the lark, to fetch in May!

Rise! and put on your foliage, and be seen
To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and green,
And sweet as Flora. Take no care
For jewels for your gown or hair;
Fear not, for the leaves will strew

Gems in abundance upon you; —

Besides, the childhood of the day has kept,

Against you come, some orient pearls unwept:

Come, and receive them while the light
Hangs on the dew-locks of the night,
And Titan on the eastern hill

Retires himself, or else stands still

Till you come forth. Wash, dress, be brief in praying: Few beads are best when once we go a-Maying.

Come, my Corinna! come, and coming, mark
How each field turns a street-each street a park,

Made green, and trimm'd with trees!-see how
Devotion gives each house a bough

Or branch!-each porch, each door, ere this
An ark, a tabernacle is,

Made up of whitehorn neatly interwove,
As if here were those cooler shades of love.
Can such delights be in the street
And open fields, and we not see 't?
Come, we'll abroad, and let 's obey
The proclamation made for May,
And sin no more, as we have done by staying,
But, my Corinna! come, let's go a-Maying.

There's not a budding boy or girl this day
But is got up and gone to bring in May.
A deal of youth ere this has come
Back, and with whitehorn laden home:
Some have dispatch'd their cakes and cream
Before that we have ceased to dream;

And some have wept, and woo'd, and plighted troth,
And chose their priest, ere we can cast off sloth:

Many a green gown has been given;

Many a kiss, both odd and even;
Many a glance, too, has been sent

From out the eye, love's firmament;

Many a jest told of the key's betraying

This night, and locks pick'd ; —yet we're not a-Maying!

Come, let us go, while we are in our prime,

And take the harmless folly of the time:

We shall grow old apace and die
Before we know our liberty.

Our life is short, and our days run
As fast away as does the sun:
And as a vapour, or a drop of rain,
Once lost, can ne'er be found again,

So when or you or I are made

A fable, song, or fleeting shade,

All love, all liking, all delight,

Lies drown'd with us in endless night.

Then while time serves, and we are but decaying,

Come, my Corinna! come, let's

go a-Maying.

CLARE.

WELCOME, pale primrose! starting up between Dead matted leaves of ash and oak, that strew The every lawn, the wood, and spinny through, 'Mid creeping moss and ivy's darker green;

How much thy presence beautifies the ground,
How sweet thy modest, unaffected pride,
Glows on the sunny bank, and wood's warm side.
And when thy fairy flowers in groups are found,
The school-boy roams enchantedly along,

Plucking the fairest with a rude delight;
While the meek shepherd stops his simple song,
To gaze a moment on the pleasing sight;
O'erjoy'd to see the flowers that truly bring
The welcome news of sweet returning Spring.

ROSCOE.

(From the German of Conrad of Kirchberg.)

MAY, Sweet May, again is come,-
May that frees the land from gloom;
Children, children! up and see
All her stores of jollity.

On the laughing hedgerow's side
She hath spread her treasures wide;

She is in the greenwood shade,
Where the nightingale hath made
Every branch and every tree
Ring with her sweet melody:

Hill and dale are May's own treasures,
Youths, rejoice! In sportive measures
Sing ye! join the chorus gay!
Hail this merry, merry May!
Up! then, children! we will go,
Where the blooming roses grow;

In a joyful company,

We the bursting flowers will see;

Up, your festal dress prepare! Where gay hearts are meeting, there

May hath pleasures most inviting, Heart, and sight, and ear, delighting.

Listen to the bird's sweet song,

Hark! how soft it floats along.

Courtly dames! our pleasure share;

Never saw I May so fair:

Therefore, dancing will we go,

Youths, rejoice! the flow'rets blow!

Sing ye! join the chorus gay!
Hail this merry, merry May!