Hymn to the Month of September / John Davies

Hymn to the Month of September

Each month hath praise in some degree;
Let May to others seem to be
In sense the sweetest Season;
September thou art best to me,
And best doth please my reason.

But neither for thy corn nor wine
Extol I those mild days of thine,
Though corn and wine might praise thee;
Heaven gives thee honour more divine,
And higher fortunes raise thee.   

Renown’d art thou (sweet month) for this,
Emong thy days her birth-day is;
Grace, plenty, peace and honour
In one fair hour with her were born;
Now since they still her crown adorn,
And still attend upon her.

~~
Sir John Davies (1570-1626)
from Hymnes of Astraea; in acrostick verse, 1599

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

John Davies biography

To the Spring / John Davies

To the Spring

Earth now is green, and heaven is blue,
Lively Spring which makes all new,
Iolly Spring, doth enter;
Sweet young sun-beams do subdue
Angry, agèd Winter.      

Blasts are mild, and seas are calm,
Every meadow flows with balm,
The Earth wears all her riches;
Harmonious birds sing such a psalm,
As ear and heart bewitches.      

Reserve (sweet Spring) this Nymph of ours,
Eternal garlands of thy flowers,
Green garlands never wasting:
In her shall last our state’s fair Spring,
Now and for ever flourishing,      
As long as Heaven is lasting.

~~
Sir John Davies (1570-1626)
from Hymnes of Astraea; in acrostick verse, 1599

[Poem is in the public domain worldwide]

John Davies biography

"To the Spring" read by Craig Franklin for LibriVox. Courtesy Books: Fifteen.