"UNDER GREEN LEAVES." SONG. UNDER the greenwood tree And tune his merry note Unto the sweet bird's throat, Come hither, come hither, come hither; No enemy But Winter and rough weather. Who doth ambition shun, And pleased with what he gets, Here shall he see No enemy But Winter and rough weather. William Shakspeare. THE GREENWOOD. OH! when 'tis summer weather, In some retreat, To hear the murmuring dove, With those whom on earth alone we love, But when 'tis winter weather, And crosses grieve, And friends deceive, And rain and sleet The lattice beat Oh! then 'tis sweet To sit and sing Of the friends with whom, in the days of Spring, We roamed through the greenwood together. W. L. Bowles. SUMMER WOODS. COME ye into the summer woods; There entereth no annoy; All greenly wave the chestnut leaves, SUMMER WOODS. I cannot tell you half the sights Of beauty you may see, There, lightly swung, in bowery glades, And the dark-blue columbine. There grows the four-leaved plant, “true love," And the wood forget-me-not. And many a merry bird is there, The blue-winged jay, the woodpecker, Come down, and ye shall see them all, The timid and the bold; For their sweet life of pleasantness, It is not to be told. And far within that summer wood, There come the little gentle birds, Without a fear of ill, Down to the murmuring water's edge, And freely drink their fill! 7 And dash about and splash about, The merry little things; And look askance with bright black eyes, I've seen the freakish squirrels drop The little squirrels with the old,— And down unto the running brook, And the bright water seemed to speak A welcome kind and low. The nodding plants they bowed their heads, As if in heartsome cheer: They spake unto these little things, ""Tis merry living here!" Oh, how my heart ran o'er with joy! And how we might glean up delight And many a wood-mouse dwelleth there, And all day long has work to do, Nor is of aught afraid. The green shoots grow above their heads, And roots so fresh and fine Beneath their feet; nor is there strife 'Mong them for mine and thine. |