| God shield ye, heralds of the spring! |
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| Ye faithful swallows, fleet of wing, |
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| Houps, cuckoos, nightingales, |
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| Turtles, and every wilder bird, |
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| That make your hundred chirpings heard |
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| Through the green woods and dales. |
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| God shield ye, Easter daisies all, |
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| Fair roses, buds, and blossoms small, |
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| And he whom erst the gore |
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| Of Ajax and Narciss did print, |
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| Ye wild thyme, anise, balm, and mint, |
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| I welcome ye once more! |
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| God shield ye, bright embroidered train |
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| Of butterflies, that on the plain |
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| Of each sweet herblet sip; |
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| And ye, new swarms of bees, that go |
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| Where the pink flowers and yellow grow |
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| To kiss them with your lip! |
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| A hundred thousand times I call |
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| A hearty welcome on ye all! |
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| This season how I love— |
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| This merry din on every shore— |
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| For winds and storms, whose sullen roar |
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| Forbade my steps to rove. |
