| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Edward Thurlow, Lord Thurlow. 1781–1829 |
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| 586. May |
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| MAY! queen of blossoms, | |
| And fulfilling flowers, | |
| With what pretty music | |
| Shall we charm the hours? | |
| Wilt thou have pipe and reed, | 5 |
| Blown in the open mead? | |
| Or to the lute give heed | |
| In the green bowers? | |
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| Thou hast no need of us, | |
| Or pipe or wire; | 10 |
| Thou hast the golden bee | |
| Ripen'd with fire; | |
| And many thousand more | |
| Songsters, that thee adore, | |
| Filling earth's grassy floor | 15 |
| With new desire. | |
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| Thou hast thy mighty herds, | |
| Tame and free-livers; | |
| Doubt not, thy music too | |
| In the deep rivers; | 20 |
| And the whole plumy flight | |
| Warbling the day and night— | |
| Up at the gates of light, | |
| See, the lark quivers! | |
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