Page:The Romance of Nature; or, The Flower-Seasons Illustrated.djvu/117

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With singing and shouting, and iolly chere: Before them yode a lustie tabrere, That to the many a horn-pype playd, Whereto they dauncen eche one with his mayd. To see those folks make such iovysaunce, Made my heart after the pype to daunce: Tho to the greene wood they speeden hem all To fetchen home May with their musicall; And one they bringen in a royale throne, Crowned as king; and his queene attone Was Lady Flora, on whom did attend A fayre flocke of faeries, and a fresh bend Of lovely nymphes. O that I were there To helpen the ladies their May-bush beare!

Though I have devoted so large a space to eulogies of the hawthorn, I cannot quit the subject without quoting a stanza from my graceful favourite, Herrick, also commemorating the ceremonies used in the merry olden-time on May-day. Much do I regret that such good and poetical festivities have become nearly obselete. Many of the sports and pastimes of our ancestors would now be unsuited to their more cultivated descendants; but such as bring us into close communion with Nature's loveliness and glory must, of necessity, be yet more highly enjoyed as our minds become more elevated and capable of comprehending, appreciating, and, above all, heartily feeling the delightful influence of the harmony and beauty of creation.

But let us hear Herrick.

TO CORINNA, GOING A MAYING.

Get up, get up, for shame, the blooming morne
Upon her wings presesents the god unshoroe.