All hail, thou flowery, showery season,

When throstles, mating, perch the trees on:

When sparrows on the house-tops sit,

And court their loves with cheery twit:

While opera songsters tune their throats,

Exchanging for our gold their notes!

Now Nature her new dress receives,

And dinner-tables spread their leaves;

Asparagus again one sees,

And early ducklings, served with peas;