God shield ye, heralds of the spring! |
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Ye faithful swallows, fleet of wing, |
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Houps, cuckoos, nightingales, |
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Turtles, and every wilder bird, |
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That make your hundred chirpings heard |
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Through the green woods and dales. |
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God shield ye, Easter daisies all, |
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Fair roses, buds, and blossoms small, |
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And he whom erst the gore |
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Of Ajax and Narciss did print, |
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Ye wild thyme, anise, balm, and mint, |
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I welcome ye once more! |
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God shield ye, bright embroidered train |
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Of butterflies, that on the plain |
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Of each sweet herblet sip; |
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And ye, new swarms of bees, that go |
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Where the pink flowers and yellow grow |
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To kiss them with your lip! |
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A hundred thousand times I call |
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A hearty welcome on ye all! |
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This season how I love— |
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This merry din on every shore— |
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For winds and storms, whose sullen roar |
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Forbade my steps to rove. |