“Gallant and gay in their doublets grey,
All at a flash like the darting of flame,
Chattering Arabic, African, Indian—
Certain of springtime, the swallows came.
“Doublets of grey silk and surcoats of purple,
Ruffs of russet round each little throat,
Wearing such garb, they had crossed the waters,
Mariners sailing with never a boat.”
—Sir Edwin Arnold.
April.