Anonymous. 15th Cent.
22. May in the Green-Wood
1 min to read
122 words

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   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, 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   Lyves not in Christiante.

'Pluk up thi hert, my dere mayster,'   Litulle Johne can say, 'And thynk hit is a fulle fayre tyme   In a mornynge of May.'

sheyne] bright.

Read next chapter  >>
Anonymous. 15th Cent.
23. Carol
1 min to read
91 words
Return to The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250–1900






Comments