Happy the age, and harmelesse were the dayes, (For then true love and amity was found) When every village did a May-pole raise, And Whitson Ales and May games did abound; And all the lusty Yonkers in a rout With merry Lasses danced the rod about; Then friendship to their banquets bid the guests, And poor men far'd the better for their feasts. The next verse recalls that scene in _The Winter's Tale_ where Shakespeare draws a vivid picture of Elizabethan country merrymaking-- The Lords of Castles, Manners, Townes, and Towers Rejoyc'd when they beheld the Farmers flourish, And would come down unto the Summer-Bowers To see the Country gallants dance the Morrice, And sometimes with his tenant's handsome daughter Would fall in liking, and espouse her after Unto his Serving-man, and for her portion Bestow on him some farme, without extortion. Alas poore Maypoles, what should be the cause That you were almost banish't from the earth? You never were rebellious to the lawes, Your greatest crime was harmelesse honest mirth; What fell malignant spirit was there found To cast your tall _Piramides_ to ground? * * * * * And you my native towne, which was of old, (When as thy Bon-fires burn'd and May-poles stood, And when thy Wassell-cups were uncontrol'd) The Summer Bower of Peace and neighbourhood, Although since these went down, thou ly'st forlorn, By factious schismes and humours over-borne, Some able hand I hope thy rod will raise, That thou maist see once more thy happy daies. The hopes of the bard of Leeds were fulfilled at the Restoration. Merriment, of a sort, came back to England; but it found no congenial acceptance from Milton. The Court roysterers, the Hectors, Nickers, Scourers, and Mohocks, among whom were numbered Sedley and Rochester, and others of the best poets of the day, are celebrated by him incidentally in those lines, unsurpassable for sombre magnificence, which he appends to his account of Belial-- In courts and palaces he also reigns, And in luxurious cities, where the noise Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, And injury and outrage; and, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. The public festivals of these later days are glanced at in _Samson Agonistes_-- Lords are lordliest in their wine; And the well-feasted priest then soonest fired With zeal, if aught religion seem concerned; No less the people on their holy-days Impetuous, insolent, unquenchable.