The Goddesses Glory

When the soft winds did blow
in the fair flourishing Spring,
Where silver Streams did flow,
and the sweet small Birds did sing:
The Hills Enamell'd were,
With fragrant Flowers fair,
pleasant and gay:
Through shades and groves I went,
Then with a full intent
to gather May.

A pleasant Flow'ry plain,
at length I there did espy,
Where a young Female Train,
made a most sweet harmony;
On Lutes they play'd and sung,
Which were most sweetly strung,
all the long Day,
The which did charm me so,
That I forgot to go
to gather May.

Clorona she was there,
whom the young Swains do adore,
And Floramella fair,
with many youthful Nymphs more;
The one for Beauty bright,
Cast such a splendid light,
out-shin'd the day,
I ask't who she might be,
Straight it was told to me,
the Queen of May.

There was none could compare
with her among all the rest:
The Tresses of her Hair
shaded her white snowy Breast:
Long did I stand and gaze,
Words cannot speak her praise,
being so gay;
Then I thought in my mind,
That I should never find
more sweeter May.

The Harmony they made,
my yielding Fancy did move;
So that I was betray'd
in the sweet Raptures of love:
Their Voices soft and sweet,
Did with their Musick meet,
as they did play;
Thought I, I'de rather be,
In their sweet Company,
than gather May.

No man felt greater smart
than I, in all the whole Earth,
Being deny'd a part
in their sweet innocent Mirth:
The Nymph that wounded me,
Would not to that agree,
but said me nay;
Fair Flora was her name;
I wisht I ne'r had came
to gather May.

They were Array'd in white,
with their fine Kerchers of Lawn;
But e're the gloomy Night,
her sable Curtains had drawn,
Homeward they did repair,
And left me Wounded there,
where I did stay,
Being perplext in mind,
Knowing not where to find
the Queen of May.