The soote season, that bud and bloom forth brings,

With green hath clad the hill, and eke the vale,

The nightingale with feathers new she sings;

The turtle to her mate hath told her tale.

Summer is come, for every spray now springs;

The hart hath hung his old head on the pale,

The buck in brake his winter coat he flings;

The fishes flete with new repaired scale;

The adder all her slough away she flings;

The swift swallow pursueth the flies smale;