THE ARGUMENT OF THE HESPERIDES. I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds, and bowers, I sing of May-poles, hock-carts, wassails, wakes, I sing of dews, of rains, and, piece by piece, WHEN HE WOULD HAVE HIS VERSES READ. In sober mornings, do not thou rehearse But when that men have both well drunk, and fed, When up the Thyrse is raised, and when the sound Of sacred orgies, flies around, around; When the rose reigns, and locks with ointments shine, Let rigid Cato read these lines of mine. CORINNA'S GOING A MAYING. Get up, get up for shame! the blooming morn See how Aurora throws her fair Each flower has wept, and bow'd toward the east. Nay! not so much as out of bed? When all the birds have matins said, And sung their thankful hymns: 'tis sin, Whenas a thousand virgins on this day, Rise; and put on your foliage, and be seen Gems in abundance upon you: Besides, the childhood of the day has kept, 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 Or branch each porch, each door, ere this, Made up of white-thorn neatly interwove; The proclamation made for May: And sin no more, as we have done, by staying; There's not a budding boy, or girl, this day, Back, and with white-thorn laden home. Some have dispatch'd their cakes and cream, And some have wept, and woo'd, and plighted troth, Many a kiss, both odd and even : Many a jest told of the keys 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 :— 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. THE ROCK OF RUBIES. Some ask'd me where the Rubies grew: And nothing I did say, But with my finger pointed to The lips of Julia. Some ask'd how Pearls did grow, and where: Then spoke I to my girl, To part her lips, and shew me there The quarrelets of Pearl CANDLEMAS EVE. Down with the rosemary and bays, The holly hitherto did sway; Or Easter's eve appear. Then youthful box, which now hath grace Grown old, surrender must his place Unto the crispèd yew. When yew is out, then birch comes in, And many flowers beside, Both of a fresh and fragrant kin, To honour Whitsuntide. Green rushes then, and sweetest bents, With cooler oaken boughs, Come in for comely ornaments, To re-adorn the house. Thus times do shift; each thing his turn does hold; New things succeed, as former things grow old. THE NIGHT PIECE. Her eyes the glow-worm lend thee, And the elves also, Whose little eyes glow Like the sparks of fire, befriend thee. No Will-o'th'-Wisp mis-light thee, Not making a stay, Since ghost there's none to affright thee. Let not the dark thee cumber; What though the moon does slumber? The stars of the night Will lend thee their light, Like tapers clear, without number. Then, Julia, let me woo thee, Thy silvery feet, My soul I'll pour into thee. TO THE VIRGINS. Gather ye rose-buds while ye may: And this same flower that smiles to-day, The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun, The sooner will his race be run, That age is best, which is the first, TO BLOSSOMS. Fair pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do ye fall so fast? Your date is not so past, But you may stay yet here a-while, And go at last. |