For all our works a recompence is sure;

Instead of holly, now up-raiseThe greener box, for show.The holly hitherto did sway;Let box now domineer,Until the dancing Easter-day,Or Easter’s eve appear.Then youthful box, which now hath graceYour houses to renew,Grown old, surrender must his placeUnto the crisped yew.When yew is out, then birch comes in,And many flowers beside,Both of a fresh and fragrant kin,To…

And ye the walks have beenWhere maids have spent their hours.You have beheld how theyWith wicker arks did come,To kiss and bear awayThe richer cowslips home.You’ve heard them sweetly sing,And seen them in a round;Each virgin, like a spring,With honeysuckles crown’d.But now, we see none here,Whose silvery feet did treadAnd with dishevell’d hairAdorn’d this smoother…

The grace, the glory, and the bestPiece of the rest;Thou art of what I did intendThe All, and End;And what was made, was made to meet.Thee, thee my sheet.Come then, and be to my chaste sideBoth bed and bride.We two, as reliques left, will haveOne rest, one grave;And, hugging close, we need not fearLust entering…

See how Aurora throws her fairFresh-quilted colours through the air;Get up, sweet slug-a-bed, and seeThe 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,…

Slept; and thus sleeping, thither flewA Robin-red-breast; who at view,Not seeing her at all to stir,Brought leaves and moss to cover her:But while he, perking, there did pryAbout the arch of either eye,The lid began to let out day,–At which poor Robin flew away;And seeing her not dead, but all disleaved,He chirpt for joy, to…