The Harmony of the muses, or, The gentlemans and ladies choisest recreation full of various, pure and transcendent wit : containing severall excellent poems, some fancies of love, some of disdain, and all the subjects incident to the passionate affections either of men or women
R. C., Donne, John, 1572-1631., King, Henry, 1592-1669., Strode, William, 1600 or 1601-1645.
The Spring.
NOw that the winters gone, the earth hath lost
Her snow-white robes, and now no more the frost,
Candies the grass, or casts an icie cream,
Upon the silver Lake or Chrystal stream,
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But the warm Sun thawes the benummed earth,
And makes it tender, gives a second birth
To the dead Swallow, wakes in hollow Tree
The drowzie Cuckow, and the Humble Bee;
Now do a Quire of chirping Minstrels sing
In triumph to the world, the youthful Spring,
The valleys, hills, and woods in rich array,
Welcome the coming of the long'd for May;
Now all things smile, only my Love doth lower,
Nor hath the scalding noon-day-sun the power,
To melt the Marble yet, which still doth hold
Her heart congealed, and makes her pity cold;
The Oxe which lately did for shelter flye
Into the stall, doth now securely lye
In open field, and Love no more is made
By the fire side, but in the cooler shade;
A•intas now doth by his Cl•r•• sleep,
Under a Sycamore, and all things keep
Time with the season, onely she doth carry
Iune in her eyes, in her heart Ianuary.
