Never seek to tell thy love, 

 Love that never told can be; 

 For the gentle wind doth move Silently, invisibly. 

 I told my love, I told my love, I told her all my heart, 

 Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears. Ah! she did depart! 

 Soon after she was gone from me, 

 A traveller came by, 

Silently, invisibly: He took her with a sigh.

The Gods of the earth and sea, 
Sought thro’ Nature to find this Tree 
But their search was all in vain: 
There grows one in the Human Brain 

The modest Rose puts forth a thorn, 

The humble sheep a threat'ning horn: 

While the Lily white shall in love delight, 

Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright.

The sun does arise,

And make happy the skies.

The merry bells ring

To welcome the Spring.

The sky-lark and thrush,

The birds of the bush,

Sing louder around,

To the bells’ cheerful sound. 

While our sports shall be seen

On the Ecchoing Green.

 

Old John, with white hair 

Does laugh away care,

Sitting under the oak,

Among the old folk, 

They laugh at our play, 

And soon they all say.

‘Such, such were the joys. 

When we all girls & boys, 

In our youth-time were seen, 

On the Ecchoing Green.’

 

Till the little ones weary

No more can be merry

The sun does descend,

And our sports have an end: 

Round the laps of their mothers, 

Many sisters and brothers,

Like birds in their nest,

Are ready for rest;

And sport no more seen,

On the darkening Green.