Ode to May

Welcome, sweet May! far thro' a world of snow, Far have I travell'd to o'ertake thy dawn; Beneath thy footsteps virgin lillies grow; Now smiles the woodland, forest and the lawn; Beside thee, lo! a pair of turtles fly, Emblems of summer, and a milder sky.

Two naked Loves, twin sons, thy steps precede, Each bears a basket made of roses twin'd; Two sporting fawns attend thee as they feed, Two silver-winged Zephyrs fan behind. Hail to thee mother of each fragrant flower, Begot by April on a fruitful shower!

Sweet middle month! between the harsh extremes Of summer's calentures, and winter's blast, Now gladsome flow the voluntary streams, And flowing seem to say—Bleak winter's past; Sweet as thou art, thy beauties more we prize Plac'd like the line, between two differing skies.

Who loves not May?—go ask the vocal grove, The vocal grove proclaims thee with her notes, Lately confin'd, blithe nature's children rove, While in mid air the linnet's music floats: Shrub, plant, and tree, with every glossy flower, Enjoy thy beauty, and confess thy power.

Ye nymphs, who with the virgin lillies vie, Now guard your virtue from the tempting swain, Beneath warm May a thousand dangers lie, Be deaf to all love's counterfeited pain: But when the bands of Hymen once are tied, If love direct—consent to be his bride.