Contents
-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Anonymous. 15th Cent.
22. May in the Green-Wood
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 | 5 |
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, | 10 |
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 | 15 |
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.’ | 20 |