MAY.
FROM THE GERMAN MINNESINGERS.
May, sweet May, again is come—
May, that frees the land from gloom;
Children, children, up and see
All her stores of jollity!
On the laughing hedgerow’s side
She hath spread her treasures wide;
She is in the greenwood shade,
Where the nightingale hath made
Every branch and every tree
Ring with her sweet melody;
Hill and dale are May’s own treasures.
Youths, rejoice! In sportive measures
Sing ye! join the chorus gay!
Hail this merry, merry May!
Up, then, children! we will go
Where the blooming roses grow;
In a joyful company
We the bursting flowers will see:
Up; your festal dress prepare!
Where gay hearts are meeting—there
May hath pleasures most inviting,
Heart, and sight, and ear delighting.
Listen to the bird’s sweet song;
Hark! how soft it floats along!
Courtly dames our pleasures share!
Never saw I May so fair;
Therefore dancing will we go.
Youths, rejoice! the flowerets blow!
Sing ye! join the chorus gay!
Hail this merry, merry May!
Our manly youths, where are they now?
Bid them up and with us go,
To the sporters on the plain:
Bid adieu to care and pain,
Now, thou pale and wounded lover!
Thou thy peace shalt soon recover,
Many a laughing lip and eye
Speaks the light heart’s gayety;
Lovely flowers around we find,
In the smiling verdure twined;
Richly steeped in May-dews glowing.
Youths, rejoice! the flowers are blowing!
Sing ye! join the chorus gay!
Hail this merry, merry May!
O, if to my love restored—
To her, o’er all her sex adored—
What supreme delight were mine!
How would care her sway resign?
Merrily in the bloom of May
Would I weave a garland gay.
Better than the best is she,
Purer than all purity;
For her spotless self alone,
I will praise this changeless one:
Thankful, or unthankful, she
Shall my song, my idol be.
Youths, then join the chorus gay!
Hail this merry, merry May!
Translation ofEdgar Taylor. Conrad V. Kirchberg, about 1170.