MAY! queen of blossoms,   And fulfilling flowers, With what pretty music   Shall we charm the hours? Wilt thou have pipe and reed, 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; Thou hast the golden bee   Ripen'd with fire; And many thousand more Songsters, that thee adore, Filling earth's grassy floor   With new desire.

Thou hast thy mighty herds,   Tame and free-livers; Doubt not, thy music too   In the deep rivers; And the whole plumy flight Warbling the day and night— Up at the gates of light,   See, the lark quivers!