Her gentle ray dispenses, and invites

The swains and maids to mix in jovial dance,

Around the towering may-poles of the green,

Where each gay plowman does his partner choose

As love or fate directs; or o’er the lawn

The needle thread, or toss the bounding ball;

All cheerless I, nor dance, nor pleasing sport,

Nor social mirth, nor bowl of nappy ale.

Partake: but, on her drooping raven wing,

Sad Melancholy hovers o’er my head,