When Flora had O'erfret the Firth

By Anonymous

16th Century


QUHEN Flora had o'erfret the firth
         In May of every moneth queen;
Quhen merle and mavis singis with mirth
         Sweet melling in the shawis sheen;
         Quhen all luvaris rejoicit bene
And most desirous of their prey,
         I heard a lusty luvar mene
--'I luve, but I dare nocht assay!'

'Strong are the pains I daily prove,
         But yet with patience I sustene,
I am so fetterit with the luve
         Only of my lady sheen,
         Quhilk for her beauty micht be queen,
Nature so craftily alway
         Has done depaint that sweet serene:
--Quhom I luve I dare nocht assay.

'She is so bricht of hyd and hue,
         I luve but her alone, I ween;
Is none her luve that may eschew,
         That blinkis of that dulce amene;
         So comely cleir are her twa een
That she mae luvaris dois affray
         Than ever of Greece did fair Helene:
--Quhom I luve I dare nocht assay!'

DayPoems Poem No. 53
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/53.html">When Flora had O'erfret the Firth by Anonymous</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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