DESCRIPTION OF SPRING

  THE soote ¹ season, that bud and bloom forth brings

  With green hath clad the hill, and eke ² the vale. 
 

 The nightingale with feathers new she sings ; 
  

The turtle ³ to her make ⁴ hath told her tale. 
  

Summer is come, for every spray⁵ now springs, 
 

 The hart ⁶ hath hung his old head ⁷ on the pale;⁸ 
 

 The buck in brake ⁹ his winter coat he slings ; 
 

 The fishes flete ¹⁰ with new repairèd scale ; 
 

 The adder all her slough away she slings ; 
  

The swift swallow pursueth the fliës smale ;¹¹
 

 The busy bee her honey now she mings ;¹² 
 

 Winter is worn¹³ that was the flowers' bale.¹⁴
   

   And thus I see among these pleasant things 
     

 Each care¹⁵ decays, and yet my sorrow springs !