February / Folgore de San Geminiano

February

In February I give you gallant sport
    Of harts and hinds and great wild boars; and all
    Your company good foresters and tall,
With buskins strong, with jerkins close and short;
And in your leashes, hounds of brave report;
    And from your purses, plenteous money-fall,
    In very spleen of misers' starveling gall,
Who at your generous customs snarl and snort.
At dusk wend homeward, ye and all your folk
    All laden from the wilds, to your carouse,
        With merriment and songs accompanied:
And so draw wine and let the kitchen smoke;
    And so be till the first watch glorious;
        Then sound sleep to you till the day be wide.

~~
Folgore de San Geminiano (?1270-1332?)
translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)
from The Early Italian Poets, 1861

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

Folgore de San Geminiano biography
Dante Gabriel Rossetti biography