Come to the Greenwood

Come to the Greenwood,
Golden-haired maiden!
Where the bird-minstrels
Carol love-laden.

Thrush with his fluting
Charms every carper,
Black-bird, the poet,
He is our harper!

Wren with his lute-notes
Lightens all labour;
Finch has the fiddle,
Linnet the tabor.

Lark, with his timbrel
Lilting above thee,
Bids the bird-chorus
Sing how I love thee!

Where mid the marish
Heath-bells are blooming,
On his low trumpet,
Bittern is booming.

Cushat and Cuckoo
Croon for thy pleasure;
Sparrow and Swallow,
Dance for my Treasure.

Bees in the branches,
Haste to rain honey,
Right on thy soft lips,
Rose-red and sunny.

Wings all a flutter —
Cries never ruesome, —
Little Saint Robin
Flies to thy bosom!

See, yonder Eagle —
Kingly his station! —
Bows to thy beauty
All adoration.

Shore-bird and sea-bird,
Curlew and Starling,
AH do make merry
Seeing my darling!

Echo will welcome,
Through the green hollow;
Sweet fairy music
Faintly will follow.

Were we together
Where the glade darkles,
Leaves would around thee
Flash in sun-sparkles.

Eden of angels
Who'd seek to win it?
This were my heaven —
Wert thou, Love, in it!