II: SPRING

Spring unveils herself

Spring unveils herself again,
   smiling on creation:
Winter's rule of wind and rain
   falls in ruination:
gaily garlanded and crowned,
   Flora bids adherence:
birds rejoice and woods resound
   at her reappearance. Phoebus with his sunny smile
   cleaves to Flora's breast -
both anew in flowery style
   colourfully dressed:
Zephyrus eke with sweet breath
   warmly wafts above us,
while we strive, as to the death,
   for the prize of lovers. Pretty girls with one accord
   flock to men of letters
meriting the lumpen horde
   far below their betters.
Love draws everyone along,
   willingly entwining:
Venus sharing in their throng
   and the summer shining. Charmingly the nightingale
   whiles away the hours:
meadows merrily regale
   all the world with flowers:
from the woods the bird-flock whirls
   myriads of flights -
while a dancing ring of girls
   hints of greater heights.

Sunshine rules

Sunshine overrules the world
   peaceably and purely:
April with her veil unfurled
   bares herself demurely;
now to thoughts of love anew
   everyone confesses,
gladsomely surrend'ring to
   Eros's caresses. Spring, inspiring once a year
   Nature's new condition,
bids us follow with good cheer
   in the old tradition:
may the springtime of your youth
   lead you to discover
need to rest in trust and truth
   faithful to your lover. Therefore love me faithfully,
   mark my own devotion:
may it be whole-heartedly
   and with resolution.
I am with you everywhere
   far away though wending:
all who love as I, must bear
   agonies unending.

Welcome season

Welcome, season,
with good reason:
spring restores our old delight:
violets grow
by the hedgerow,
sunshine renders all things bright:
so may care give way to fun -
summer's coming,
winter's running -
nasty winter's on the run!
Now withdrawing,
melting, thawing,
snow and ice and all the rest:
mists are vanished,
earth, half famished,
draws new life from summer's breast:
dull and dreary all who shun
living, lusting,
trysting, trusting
in the cheery summer Sun! Loudly voicing
and rejoicing
we're all after Cupid's prize:
we who win it
see within it
sights reserved for lovers' eyes;
Venus orders - let's obey:
loudly voicing
and rejoicing,
we shall have her every day!

Gone away...

Forest, wood and lofty bower
flourishing with leaf and flower:
where is my once lover?
Has he another?
   He rode away to thwart me -
Alas! Now who will court me? Now the greenwood's newly started
where's my former love departed?
   He rode away to thwart me -
Alas! Now who will court me?

Chapman, let me have...

Chapman, let me have some rouge
   fit for my complexion,
so that I may lead young men
   willy-nilly into my affection.

   Look at me, young man, see -
   let me be your pleasure! Sir, you are required to love
   ladies who deserve it;
true love elevates the heart;
   people honour gentlemen who serve it.

   Look at me, young man, see -
   let me be your pleasure! Bless you, World, for your joys:
   how shall I repay you?
Let me plight my troth to you
   in your service honour and obey you.

   Look at me, young man, see -
   let me be your pleasure!

Here dancin'...

Here dancin' and a whirlin'
they're everyone a virgin:
they plan to go without a man
all the summer if they can!

Come, oh come my love

Come, oh come my love to me,
all too long I long for thee!
all too long I long for thee,
come, oh come my love to me! With thy rose-red lips again
come and cure me of my pain!
come and cure me of my pain
with thy rose-red lips again!

If the whole wide world...

If the whole wide world were mine
from the sea right down the Rhine
   I'd surrender all its charms
for one chance of holding in my arms
   of holding in my arms
Queen Eleanor of England!