Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Edward Thurlow, Lord Thurlow. 17811829586. May
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? | |
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. | |
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! |