Classic Poem

upon the measure About the Bank of Helicon

A shout came from the loquacious ones
whom we heard yesterday under green trees,
holy and church-like place,
three lives to those gentle poets,
grove linnet, innocent nightingale,
pensive and paradisal,
sweet thrush of pure oration,
the blackbird greater in desire
and the lascivious siskin
who net the song of the lark,
singing,
plucking
so much poetry,
so lively,
so clearly,
and in their true lusting.

A near-by grove with notes increasing,
an April grove and primrose-full,
place of fine song and daisies;
a dale full of the spring clover
and the green clothes of true delight
filling with happiness,
with flowers on the thorn points,
the slim birch and the fresh leaves;
fair is the fountain, sweet the spot,
from under boughs there springs
the clear water,
the fresh water;
fair, fortunate place,
a place to sleep,
a place to learn
all knots of descanting.

I'd have all sweetness in my house,
both the song of Gwynedd's darling
to some sprightly music
and an Irish girl called Eurwedd,
unyoked pair of laughing girls
in shining green tree mansion,
to sing loud of happy summers
all with bird song entwined;
profitably to sing to God
a golden cycle of great praise;
a tuning up
of psalmody
in varying notes;
devices,
turning voices
for unnumbered ages.

Many tree-clusters, open woodlands,
many a column deeply fashioned,
many a clear knot of praise;
a peaceful place full of sweet chords
of the plentiful praise that's made
by the meadow-dwellers;
each bird in its own voice,
each tree in bright green tunic,
each plant in its own virtue,
each bird with a poet's lips,
not suffering
but sprightly
in heavenly notes;
not troubled
but in treble;
the place is Venus's.

Delight is good for all mankind
and merriment for maidens,
Sunday is good for men;
this is fair and not odious for age,
fair, not unpleasant, for youth.
Sunday is good for men,
planned fair by the true God Father,
his gift and notable grace.
Each voice is fair, every turn,
as long as there's no sin.
On earth
how gentle;
early on the wheat
and on the grove;
how mild the land
where the great blessing's given!