Classic Poem

Up, Amaryllis! Wake, little sweeting!
Clouds are all fleeting,
Cool the air.
See how the glowing
Rainbow, its flowing
Colors bestowing,
Makes all fair.
Amaryllis, truly I assure thee,
Peace on Neptune's bosom I 'll secure thee.
Let the god of sleep no longer lure thee,
Let him no more overmaster thee there!

Let 's go a-fishing—nets are all spread now—
Mope not in bed now,
Quickly rise!
Come thou, all bodiced,
Kirtled so modest;
Fish of the oddest
Be our prize!
Amaryllis, little one, awaken,—
Lacking thee, of joy I 'm quite forsaken;
From our boat the spray will soon be shaken,
As mid the dolphins and sirens it flies.

Bring rods and lines, and spoon for our trolling!
Up the sun 's rolling—
Hasten thee!
Sweet, let us revel,
Think thou no evil,
Say no uncivil
Nay to me!
Let us sail into the cove so shallow,
Or to yonder sound thy love did hallow,
Erst, when at my fortune that poor fellow
Thyrsis was angry as angry could be.

Come, then, embark and sing with me sweetly!
Love rules completely
In our breast.
Winds that would harm us
Cannot alarm us,
Love still can charm us
Make us blest.
Happy on the ocean's fretful billow,
As within thine arms my head I pillow,
Unto death my soul thy soul would follow …
Sing, O ye sirens, reëcho the rest!