The Comic Almanack, Volume 1: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
David Hume · en
And then at night,
Oh! what delight
To hear the pipes of Pan!
And see the old connexion still
Kept up 'twixt _May_ and _Can_!
While maidens bound
The May-pole round,
With hearts and footsteps light:
And near the _Pole_ a _booth_ is found,
A _Boothia Felix_ quite.
At least 'twas so
Some years ago,
Ere wisdom oped our eyes;
And farthing folks, with penny mags,
Made people penny wise.
But, nowadays,
We've no such Mays:
Unpluck'd now blows the hawthorn.
A May-pole I no more can find
Than Parry can the _northern_.
Our Johnny raws
Read Newton's laws,
All merriment unheeding;
And, poring over the _Laws of Light_,
Imagine it light reading.
Yet still, sweet May,
To me thou'rt gay;
My pleasure and my pride!
I love thy vi'lets, daffodils,
Daisies,—and pigeons—pied!
I love thy flow'rs,
And shady bow'rs;
Thy mountains and thy vales.
I love thy _morning breezes_, and
I love thy _nightingales_!
Then, hip! huzza!
For Merry May!
We'll banish care and fear;
And sing and dance from _day_ to _day_,
And laugh from _ear_ to _ear_!
[Illustration:
JUNE.—Haymaking.
]