ANONYMOUS 13TH CENTURY THE FIRST CAROL SUMMER is y-comen in! Loud sing cuckoo ! Groweth seed and bloweth mead, And springeth the wood new. Ewe bleateth after lamb, Cuckoo! cuckoo ! Nor cease thou ever now. Sing cuckoo now! Sing cuckoo! SIR WALTER RALEIGH 1552-1618 VERSES BEFORE DEATH EVEN Such is time, that takes in trust Our youth, our joys, our all we have, And pays us but with earth and dust; Who, in the dark and silent grave, When we have wandered all our ways, But from this earth, this grave, this dust, EDMUND SPENSER 1553-1599 EASTER Most glorious Lord of life! that on this day Didst make thy triumph over death and sin; And, having harrowed hell, didst bring away Captivity then captive, us to win : This glorious day, dear Lord, with joy begin, And grant that we, for whom thou diddest die, Being with thy dear blood clean washed from sin, May live for ever in felicity! And that thy love we weighing worthily, May likewise love thee for the same again; FRESH SPRING FRESH Spring, the herald of love's mighty king, |