O lusty May, with Flora queen,
The balmy drops from Phoebus’ sheen
Prelucent beams before the day,
By the Diana groweth green
Through gladness of this lusty May.

Then Hesperus that is so bright,
To woeful hearts he casteth light
Right pleasantly before the day,
And shows and sheds forth of that sight
Through gladness of this lusty May.

The birds on boughs of every sort
Send forth their notes and make great mirth
On banks that bloom on every brae,
And fare and fly o’er field and firth
Through gladness of this lusty May.

All lovers’ hearts that are in care,
To their ladies they do repair
On fresh mornings before the day,
And are in mirth aye more and more
Through gladness of this lusty May.

Of all the months of the year,
To mirthful May there is no peer,
Then glistening garments are so gay,
Ye lovers all make merry cheer
Through gladness of this lusty May.

Beautiful world!
Though bigots condemn thee,
My tongue finds no words
For the graces that gem thee!
Beaming with sunny light,
Bountiful ever,
Streaming with gay delight,
Full as a river!
Bright world! brave world!
Let cavillers blame thee!
I bless thee, and bend
To the God who did frame thee!

Beautiful world!
Bursting around me,
Manifold, million-hued
Wonders confound me!
From earth, sea, and starry sky,
Meadow and mountain,
Eagerly gushes
Life's magical fountain.
Bright world! brave world!
Though witlings may blame thee,
Wonderful excellence
Only could frame thee!

The bird in the greenwood
His sweet hymn is trolling,
The fish in blue ocean
Is spouting and rolling!
Light things on airy wing
Wild dances weaving,
Clods with new life in spring
Swelling and heaving!
Thou quick-teeming world,
Though scoffers may blame thee,
I wonder, and worship
The God who could frame thee!

Beautiful world!
What poesy measures
Thy strong-flooding passions,
Thy light-trooping pleasures?
Mustering, marshalling,
Striving and straining,
Conquering, triumphing,
Ruling and reigning!
Thou bright-armied world!
So strong, who can tame thee?
Wonderful power of God
Only could frame thee!

Beautiful world!
While godlike I deem thee,
No cold wit shall move me
With bile to blaspheme thee!
I have lived in thy light,
And, when Fate ends my story,
May I leave on death's cloud
The bright trail of life's glory!
Wondrous old world!
No ages shall shame thee!
Ever bright with new light
From the God who did frame thee!