And as the blissful sun drove up the sky,
All nature sang through comfort of the light,
The minstrels wing'd, with open voices cry,
"O Lovers now is fled the dully night,
"Come welcome day, that comforts ev'ry wight;
"Hail May! hail Flora! hail Aurora sheen,
"Hail Princess Nature! hail love's hartsome Queen!
X.
Dame Nature gave an inhibition there,
To Neptune fierce, and Eolus the bold,
Not to perturb the water or the air,
That neither blashy shower, nor blasts more cold
Should flowers affray nor fowls upon the fold.
She bade eke Juno, Goddess of the sky,
That she the heaven should keep amene and dry.
XI.
Also ordain'd that every bird and beast
Before her Highness should anon compear;
And every flower of virtue most and least,
And every herb of fair field far and near,
As they had wont in May from year to year;
To her their Queen to make obedience,
Full low inclining with due reverence.
XII.
With that anon she sent the swift foot Roe,
To bring in alkind beast from dale and down;
The restless swallow order'd she to go,
And fetch all fowl of great and small renown,
And to gar flowers appear of all fassoun:
Full craftily conjured she the Yarrow,
Which did forth swirk as swift as any arrow.
XIII.
All brought in were in twinkling of an eye,
Both beast and bird and flower before the Queen;
And first the Lion, greatest of degree,
Was summon'd there; and he, fair to be seen,
With a full hardy countenance and keen,
Before Dame Nature came, and did incline,
With visage bold, and courage leonine.