The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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MAY-DAY. |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
MAY-DAY.
See the nymphs in May-day dresses,
Dancing on the daisied green!
Sloe-thorn blossoms grace their tresses,
Brightest blue-bells deck their queen.
Dancing on the daisied green!
Sloe-thorn blossoms grace their tresses,
Brightest blue-bells deck their queen.
While of thyme and unblown roses,
Twined among the leaves of bay,
Each a fragrant wreath composes,
On the joyful holiday.
Twined among the leaves of bay,
Each a fragrant wreath composes,
On the joyful holiday.
Lyra tunes the rural measure,
While the cowslips at her feet
Dance, as if they felt the pleasure
Of her trills and cadence sweet.
While the cowslips at her feet
Dance, as if they felt the pleasure
Of her trills and cadence sweet.
See!—the lark her song suspending,
Drops and listens to the air,
While the snow-white lambs, attending,
Strive to imitate the fair.
Drops and listens to the air,
While the snow-white lambs, attending,
Strive to imitate the fair.
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Blithe and gay each nymph appearing,
See, how innocent they smile!
Each a branch of myrtle bearing
On a breast that knows no guile.
See, how innocent they smile!
Each a branch of myrtle bearing
On a breast that knows no guile.
Where's the youth that could deceive them,
Smiling on their morn of May,
Gain their love, then scorning leave them,
Like their garlands, to decay?
Smiling on their morn of May,
Gain their love, then scorning leave them,
Like their garlands, to decay?
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |