Classic Poem

When twig-decked summer overtaketh us,
the tempest of the skies renounceth sullenness;
come mildness, warmth and joyousness,
and all things wax in might accordingly:
with the sun's strength virtue doth come to us,
which will encompass the whole universe;
out of her flank, when she doth rise, will come
heat that will benefit, and not be lost to us.

Now springeth crop in manor land
from seed-sowing at the normal time,
extracting essence from the native soil,
that stirreth it from the ground to its tip;
well-favoured, chequered, flourishing,
'tis heavy-stalked and large of grain,
rich-eared, brindled, husk-covered,
substantial, full when harvested.

Sweet is the fragrance of the glossy sprays,
around the garden of the many gems,
where there would be most splendid jewels,
and warmth ever addeth to their colouring:
how rich in apples, pears and figs,
clean, fruitful, hidden, snugly set,
is every avenue, with its own lovely lawns,
like royal palace, to make a circuit round.

Full blithe, each glen of mountain wilderness
doth set a comely mask upon its face;
and plants — each with its crest so marvellous —
are growing beneath a thousand banners;
how leafy, exquisite, flower-strewn,
bright, gorgeous, copious and coiled,
entangled, bushy, rich in meadow grass
and arrow grass, all soft and palely green.

'Twill gladden every ordinary man
to view each natural phenomenon;
the naked moor assumeth pasture hues,
each day bestowing a pure layer on it:
all shaggy, fertile, down-covered,
so bosky, tangled, full of fruit,
made fresh, dark-green, sweet-scented
by warm and stimulating showers.

Each forest doth become replete, grass-grown,
and the deer put on their own distinctive dress;
how gay, peak-headed, proud-stepping,
swift-bounding and prick-eared they are;
horned, antlered, white-rumped, quick-footed,
with many a fawn and little hind —
basking in sunshine in the month of May,
on mountain slope whereon they roam around.

Beside each hind among them is a calf,
both lying down, just as they ought to be;
and merry will be every stag and fawn
when St. John of the Rood's feast overtaketh them;
it were increase of food and length of days,
for anyone who fell in love with them,
oft to observe them narrowly
and hear the rumble of their bellowing.

The giddy-headed doe doth garb herself
in comeliness, attractive hues and tones,
while casting off the winter shag, which stress,
inclemency and cold had laid on her;
since summer warmth hath come to us,
she will put on a ruddy robe;
in harmony therewith she hath a dainty taste,
and she is healthful, sinewy and limber.

Now fresh, fine-spotted is the little fawn,
and dry the snout on the most piquant face;
so sportive, sturdy, spirited is he,
against the roe's shoulder, companion-like.
How they would dart through copse at eventide,
at the mercy of the midges frequently;
how lively, trim, short-rumped the tribe
that hath for name " the russet ones."

All feeble creatures, that had for a time
been subject to the misery of cold,
will raise their heads with joyfulness,
since warmth with power hath come to them;
the birds are on their wonted note,
melodious, gleeful, welcoming,
rejoicing throughout bush and shrubbery,
without a care to leave them woebegone.

Untainted is that numerous race,
and proud and graceful are they in their flight;
with their vocal art, trilling fiddler-like,
they are entrancing, sweet unto my ears;
clear, lyrical, most spirited
is the native speech discoursed by them;
displaying beak, wing, comb and plume,
they are sheltered, fond of privacy.

The cock, with his own husky, purling tones,
on verdant hillocks will be murmuring
vivacious, tuneful, tripping melodies,
his reed close-linking them in harmony;
there's the curved beak of the powerful notes;
his breast is doubly rich in colouring;
black-flanked, white-barred and speckled vividly,
he hath two hens courting him prettily.

The cuckoo in May month will visit us
and the vest-clad lark will be along with her;
also the wren is tuning chanters
on the highest twig that he discovereth;
and now the whole wood and the glens will be
a-quiver with the thrill of carolling —
so great the sound of that imperious throng,
pervading bushes, trees and sapling wood.

The most sequestered of the forest groves,
the trees round which the thrushes congregate —
their branches all increase in goodliness,
they are transformed in aspect and in hue;
through their offshoots, straight and intertwined,
the heart of the roots attaineth luxury,
which new apparel doth accentuate
as blossom openeth on sappy sprays.

The birch tree flourisheth in stem and bough,
in shoot and wand, displaying its new growth;
now sap and moisture come beneath the bark,
foliage and rind it hath for covering:
in sultry heat, the substance of the mould
doth penetrate the saplings' dense top growth,
florescent, tender, delicate to taste;
of all nose snuffs it is my favourite.

There's the aquatic, sleek-eared water-cress,
grey-green, round-headed, tender, dimly blue,
growing clean, high-breasted, dandy-like,
beneath its white, complete, peculiar crown —
within a dell that was delightful, trim,
with wood-sorrel and with daisies;
while every plant that I might specify,
assumeth an aspect of rare comeliness.

Thick-tufted, crisp, upstanding,
compact, unkempt, fine-formed, full-maned,
is the crabbed, dark-dun, ruddy heath,
bell-flowered, outstretched and edged with green;
'tis bushy, stalky, and green-hued,
snug, meadowy and hummocky;
and the honey is hair powder for it,
maintaining it in modishness.

'Tis hair that hath the precious perfume —
its strength is great, its virtues manifold;
the beeswax of the hives doth grow thereon,
the speckled bee mid knolls doth garner it:
sad and melancholy, a hum he hath
the while he droneth on the spikes of fruits;
young wives' and gentle dames' desire would be
within his pleasant, cosy dwelling-house.

And grizzled, brindled, dun-headed is he,
mottled, yellow, streaky and ring-barred,
well-beaked and clawed, untamed, intractable,
furiously toiling as an husbandman:
so active, busy, diligent,
not idling in his working hours;
it is the odour of wild herbs
he getteth for both food and wage.

Every herd, assembled on the upper heights —
'tis to the shieling they will all proceed;
come milk, and cattle-pairing, without stint,
and mounting crest on the maid's milking-pail;
for heifers, youngest and most vigorous,
that fetter time had not experienced —
for these the brown-tressed damsel hath a song,
soothing them gently with her simple lays.

Truly attractive are the young calves
in the precincts of that fold at eventide;
they are white-bellied, dappled and stout-legged;
white-flanked, white-backed, white-nosed, with shoulders high;
also brown-hued, jet black, going two by two,
yellow, grey-white, blood-red, remarkable;
lithe, smooth of side, erect, of comely form;
full soft and sleek the surface of their hide.

Now creatures will be jaunty, challenging,
renewing vigour boldly, skilfully,
with excitement overwhelming stock —
the flock and the herd, and the herdsman too;
the glen is full of crops, trees, level plots;
'tis rich in garlic, bracken, sedge and rush;
withal 'tis kindly, sweet, soft-featured, fair,
with hills and uplands, grass and water springs.

Mint, camomile and primroses appear,
sharp-leaved, on meadows, swaying to and fro;
yarrow and bushy-headed caraway,
forbidding, curly, shaggy and sharp-eared;
come strawberries and scent of gooseberries,
a wealth of lilies and of globate roses,
while little children, gathering playthings,
dig bitter vetch in crevices of banks.

The moor will be replete with freshness
in the pregnant, misty night of dog-star month;
then every stalk will have its head bent down
because of fullness and the weight of dew,
forming a many-beaded rosary,
invigorative, juicy, gladdening;
the sun will make it vapour speedily
by the aspect of her face in early morn.

When her effulgent face doth shine on us,
so bountiful, august, bright-glancing, kind,
then mercies come and labour prospereth
to make this land of Europe exquisite,
with joyfulness in the sun's radiance
which she diffuseth softly in the sky,
declaring every boon she wrought for us,
unfolding it, and adding thereunto.