| |
| COME live with me, and be my dear, | |
| And we will revel all the year, | |
| In plains and groves, on hills and dales: | |
| Where fragrant air breeds sweetest gales. | |
| |
| There shall you have the beauteous Pine, | 5 |
| The Cedar, and the spreading Vine, | |
| And all the woods to be a screen; | |
| Least Phoebus kiss my Summer’s Queen. | |
| |
| The seat for your disport shall be | |
| Over some River in a tree, | 10 |
| Where silver sands and pebbles sing, | |
| Eternal ditties with the spring. | |
| |
| There shall you see the Nymphs at play, | |
| And how the Satyrs spend the day, | |
| The fishes gliding on the sands: | 15 |
| Offering their bellies to your hands. | |
| |
| The birds with heavenly tuned throats, | |
| Possess woods Echos with sweet notes, | |
| Which to your senses will impart, | |
| A music to enflame the heart. | 20 |
| |
| Upon the bare and leaf-less Oak, | |
| The Ring-Doves wooings will provoke | |
| A colder blood then you possess, | |
| To play with me and do no less. | |
| |
| In bowers of Laurel trimly dight, | 25 |
| We will out-wear the silent night, | |
| While Flora busy is to spread: | |
| Her richest treasure on our bed. | |
| |
| Ten thousand Glow-worms shall attend, | |
| And all this sparkling lights shall spend, | 30 |
| All to adorn and beautify; | |
| Your lodging with most majesty. | |
| |
| Then in mine arms will I enclose | |
| Lilies fair mixture with the Rose, | |
| Whose nice perfections in love’s play: | 35 |
| Shall tune me to the highest key. | |
| |
| Thus as we pass the welcome night, | |
| In sportful pleasures and delight, | |
| The nimble Fairies on the grounds, | |
| Shall dance and sing melodious sounds. | 40 |
| |
| If these may serve for to entice, | |
| Your presence to Love’s Paradise, | |
| Then come with me, and be my Dear; | |
| And we will then begin the year. | |
| |
