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

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,

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;

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!

This season how I love—

This merry din on every shore—

For winds and storms, whose sullen roar

Forbade my steps to rove.