YOUNG folk now flock in everywhere,
To gather May-bushes and smelling brere
And home they hasten the posts to dight
And all the kirk pillars, ere daylight,
With hawthorn-buds, and sweet eglantine
And garlands of roses.-

Even this morning-no longer ago—
I saw a shoal of shepherds outgo,

With singing, and shouting, and jolly cheer:
Before them went a lusty tabourer,
That unto many a hornpipe play'd,

Whereto they danced, each one with his maid.
To see these folk making such joyance
Make my heart after the pipe to dance.
Then to the greenwood they speed them all
To fetch home May, with their musical:
And home they bring him, in a royal throne,
Crown'd as king; and his queen-fair one-
Was Lady Flora, on whom did attend

A fair flock of fairies, and a fresh bend
Of lovely nymphs. Oh that I were there,
To help the ladies their May-bush to bear!
-EDMUND SPENSER.