May in the Green-Wood

by Anonymous (1500-1599)

In somer when the shawes be sheyne,   And leves be large and long, Hit is full merry in feyre foreste   To here the foulys song. To se the dere draw to the dale   And leve the hilles hee, And shadow him in the leves grene   Under the green-wode tree. Hit befell on Whitsontide   Early in a May mornyng, The Sonne up faire can shyne,   And the briddis mery can syng. 'This is a mery mornyng,' said Litulle Johne,   'Be Hym that dyed on tre; A more mery man than I am one   Lyves not in Christiantè. 'Pluk up thi hert, my dere mayster,'   Litulle Johne can say, 'And thynk hit is a fulle fayre tyme   In a mornynge of May.'

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