Corinna’s Going a-Maying

Lyrics

Get up, get up for shame, the Blooming Morne Upon her wings presents the god unshorne See how Aurora throwes her faire Fresh-quilted colours through the aire: Get up, sweet-Slug-a-bed, and see The Dew-bespangling Herbe and Tree Each Flower has wept, and bow'd toward the East Above an houre since; yet you not drest Nay! not so much as out of bed? When all the Birds have Mattens seyd And sung their thankful Hymnes: 'tis sin Nay, profanation to keep in When as a thousand Virgins on this day Spring, sooner than thе Lark, to fetch in May Rise; and put on your Foliage, and bе seene To come forth, like the Spring-time, fresh and greene; And sweet as Flora. Take no care For Jewels for your Gowne, or Haire: Feare not; the leaves will strew Gemms in abundance upon you: Besides, the childhood of the Day has kept Against you come, some Orient Pearls unwept: Come, and receive them while the light Hangs on the Dew-locks of the night: And Titan on the Eastern hill Retires himselfe, or else stands still Till you come forth. Wash, dresse, be briefe in praying: Few Beads are best, when once we goe a Maying Come, my Corinna, come; and comming, marke How each field turns a street; each street a Parke Made green, and trimm'd with trees: see how Devotion gives each House a Bough Or Branch: Each Porch, each doore, ere this An Arke a Tabernacle is Made up of white-thorn neatly enterwove; As if here were those cooler shades of love Can such delights be in the street And open fields, and we not see't? Come, we'll abroad; and let's obay The Proclamation made for May: And sin no more, as we have done, by staying; But my Corinna, come, let's goe a Maying There's not a budding Boy, or Girle, this day But is got up, and gone to bring in May A deale of Youth, ere this, is come Back, and with White-thorn laden home Some have dispatcht their Cakes and Creame Before that we have left to dreame: And some have wept, and woo'd, and plighted Troth And chose their Priest, ere we can cast off sloth: Many a green-gown has been given; Many a kisse, both odde and even: Many a glance too has been sent From out the eye, Loves Firmament: Many a jest told of the Keyes betraying This night, and Locks pickt, yet w'are not a Maying Come, let us goe, while we are in our prime; And take the harmlesse follie of the time We shall grow old apace, and die Before we know our liberty Our life is short; and our dayes run As fast away as do's the Sunne: And as a vapour, or a drop of raine Once lost, can ne'r be found againe: So when or you or I are made A fable, song, or fleeting shade; All love, all liking, all delight Lies drown'd with us in endlesse night Then while time serves, and we are but decaying; Come, my Corinna, come, let's goe a Maying