Living
A Spring Ditty
Translated by John Addington Symonds (1884) · From Wine, Women, and Song (1884)
In the spring, ah happy day!
Underneath a leafy spray
With her sister stands my may.
O sweet love!
He who now is reft of thee
Poor is he!
Ah, the trees, how fair they flower
Birds are singing in the bower;
Maidens feel of love the power.
O sweet love!
See the lilies, how they blow!
And the maidens row by row
Praise the best of gods below.
O sweet love!
If I held my sweetheart now,
In the wood beneath the bough,
I would kiss her, lip and brow.
O sweet love!
He who now is reft of thee,
Poor is he!
Cite this poem
MLA
The Goliards (Wandering Scholars). “A Spring Ditty.” Translated by John Addington Symonds. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/goliards/17/.
Chicago
The Goliards (Wandering Scholars). “A Spring Ditty.” Translated by John Addington Symonds. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/goliards/17/.
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