Made CORINNA'S GOING A MAYING. 31 Made green, and trimmed with trees!-see how Or branch!—each porch, each door, ere this up of whitehorn neatly interwove, As if here were those cooler shades of love. Can such delights be in the street And sin no more, as we have done by staying, There's not a budding boy or girl this day A deal of youth ere this has come Some have despatched their cakes and cream Before that we have ceased to dream; And some have wept, and wooed, 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 picked;—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 Our life is short, and our days run And as a vapor, or a drop of rain, A fable, song, or fleeting shade, All love, all liking, all delight, Lies drowned with us in endless night. Then while time serves, and we are but decaying, Come, my Corinna! come, let's go a Maying. HERRICK. THE PRIMROSE. 33 THE PRIMROSE. 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 schoolboy 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'erjoyed to see the flowers that truly bring The welcome news of sweet returning Spring. CLARE. 5 A TRIBUTE TO MAY. (FROM THE GERMAN OF CONRAD OF KIRCHBERG.) MAY, Sweet May, again is come, May that frees the land from gloom; On the laughing hedgerow's side She hath spread her treasures wide; Ring with her sweet melody: Hill and dale are May's own treasures, Sing ye! join the chorus gay! Up! then, children! we will go, In a joyful company, We the bursting flowers will see; Up, your festal dress prepare! Where gay hearts are meeting, there THE WOODLAND IN SPRING. May hath pleasures most inviting, Courtly dames! our pleasure share; Never saw I May so fair: Therefore, dancing will we go, Sing ye! join the chorus gay! Hail this merry, merry May! ROSCOE. THE WOODLAND IN SPRING. E'EN in the spring and play-time of the year, That calls th' unwonted villager abroad To gather kingcups in the yellow mead, Sits cooing in the pine-tree, nor suspends કર |