Minstrels’ Marriage Song

Thomas Chatterton (1752–1770)

From “Œlla: A Tragical Interlude”

First Minstrel.

THE BUDDING floweret blushes at the light:

The meads are sprinkled with the yellow hue;

In daisied mantles is the mountain dight;

The slim young cowslip bendeth with the dew;

The trees enleafèd, into heaven straught,

When gentle winds do blow, to whistling din are brought.

The evening comes and brings the dew along;

The ruddy welkin sheeneth to the eyne;

Around the ale-stake minstrels sing the song;

Young ivy round the doorpost doth entwine;

I lay me on the grass; yet, to my will,

Albeit all is fair, there lacketh something still.

Second Minstrel.

So Adam thought, what time, in Paradise,

All heaven and earth did homage to his mind.

In woman and none else man’s pleasaunce lies,

As instruments of joy are kind with kind.

Go, take a wife unto thine arms, and see

Winter and dusky hills will have a charm for thee.