Corinna's Going a-Maying
Get up, get up for shame, the blooming Morn
Upon her wings presents the god unshorn.
See how Aurora throws her fair
Fresh-quilted colours through the air:
Get up, sweet-Slug-a-bed, and see
The Dew-bespangling Herb and Tree.
Each Flower has wept, and bow'd toward the East,
Above an hour since; yet you not drest,
Nay! not so much as out of bed?
When all the Birds have Matins said,
And sung their thankful Hymns: 'tis sin,
Nay, profanation to keep in,
When as a thousand Virgins on this day,
Spring, sooner than the Lark, to fetch in May.
Rise; and put on your Foliage, and be seen
To come forth, like the Spring-time, fresh and green;
And sweet as Flora. Take no care
For Jewels for your Gown, or Hair:
Fear not; the leaves will strew
Gems in abundance upon you:
Besides, the childhood of the Day has kept,
Against you come, some Orient Pearls unwept:
Come, and receive them while the light
Hangs on the Dew-locks of the night:
And Titan on the Eastern hill
Retires himself, or else stands still
Till you come forth. Wash, dress, be brief in praying:
Few Beads are best, when once we go a-Maying.
Come, my Corinna, come; and coming, mark
How each field turns a street; each street a Park
Made green, and trimm'd with trees: see how
Devotion gives each House a Bough,
Or Branch: Each Porch, each door, ere this,
An Ark a Tabernacle is
Made up of white-thorn neatly interwove;
As if here were those cooler shades of love.
Can such delights be in the street,
And open fields, and we not see't?
Come, we'll abroad; and let's obey
The Proclamation made for May:
And sin no more, as we have done, by staying;
But my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying.
There's not a budding Boy, or Girl, this day,
But is got up, and gone to bring in May.
A deal of Youth, ere this, is come
Back, and with White-thorn laden home.
Some have dispatched their Cakes and Cream,
Before that we have left to dream:
And some have wept, and woo'd, and plighted Troth,
And chose their Priest, ere we can cast off sloth:
Many a green-gown has been given;
Many a kiss, both odd and even:
Many a glance too has been sent
From out the eye, Love's Firmament:
Many a jest told of the Keys betraying
This night, and Locks pick'd, yet we're not a-Maying.
Come, let us go, while we are in our prime;
And take the harmless folly of the time.
We shall grow old apace, and die
Before we know our liberty.
Our life is short; and our days run
As fast away as does the Sun:
And as a vapour, or a drop of rain
Once lost, can ne'r be found again:
So when or you or I are made
A fable, song, or fleeting shade;
All love, all liking, all delight
Lies drown'd with us in endless night.
Then while time serves, and we are but decaying;
Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying..
~~
Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
from Hesperides, 1648
[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]
Come, my Corinna, come, let's go a-Maying..
~~
Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
from Hesperides, 1648
[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]
"Corrina's Going a-Maying" read by Katrina Atsinger. Courtesy YouTube.
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