Gateway to the Classics: Oxford Book of English Verse, Part 1 by Arthur Quiller-Couch
 
Oxford Book of English Verse, Part 1 by  Arthur Quiller-Couch

Lusty May

O lusty May, with Flora queen!

The balmy dropis from Phoebus sheen

Preluciand beams before the day:

By that Diana growis green

Through gladness of this lusty May.

Then Esperus, that is so bricht,

Til woful hairtis castis his light,

With bankis that bloomis on every brae;

And schouris are shed forth of their sicht

Through gladness of this lusty May.

Birdis on bewis of every birth,

Rejoicing notis makand their mirth

Richt plesantly upon the spray,

With flourishingis o'er field and firth

Through gladness of this lusty May.

All luvaris that are in care

To their ladies they do repair

In fresh morningis before the day,

And are in mirth ay mair and mair

Through gladness of this lusty May.

— Anonymous
16th century   


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