Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume V. Nature. 1904. | | | | III. The Seasons | | Return of Spring | | Pierre de Ronsard (1524–1585) |
| | From the French by Henry F. Cary |
|
GOD shield ye, heralds of the spring! | |
| Ye faithful swallows, fleet of wing, | |
| Houps, cuckoos, nightingales, | |
| Turtles, and every wilder bird, | |
| That make your hundred chirpings heard | 5 |
| Through the green woods and dales. | |
| |
| God shield ye, Easter daisies all, | |
| Fair roses, buds, and blossoms small, | |
| And he whom erst the gore | |
| Of Ajax and Narciss did print, | 10 |
| Ye wild thyme, anise, balm, and mint, | |
| I welcome ye once more! | |
| |
| God shield ye, bright embroidered train | |
| Of butterflies, that on the plain | |
| Of each sweet herblet sip; | 15 |
| And ye, new swarms of bees, that go | |
| Where the pink flowers and yellow grow | |
| To kiss them with your lip! | |
| |
| A hundred thousand times I call | |
| A hearty welcome on ye all! | 20 |
| This season how I love— | |
| This merry din on every shore— | |
| For winds and storms, whose sullen roar | |
| Forbade my steps to rove. | | | |
|
|
|
