5I heard a linnet courtingHis lady in the spring:His mates were idly sporting,Nor stayed to hear him singHis song of love.—I fear my speech distortingHis tender love.The phrases of his pleadingWere full of young delight;And she that gave him heedingInterpreted arightHis gay, sweet notes,—So sadly marred in the reading,—His tender notes.And when he ceased, the hearerAwaited the refrain,Till swiftly perching nearerHe sang his song again,His pretty song:—Would that my verse spake clearerHis tender song!Ye happy, airy creatures!That in the merry springThink not of what misfeaturesOr cares the year may bring;But unto loveResign your simple natures,To tender love.
5I heard a linnet courtingHis lady in the spring:His mates were idly sporting,Nor stayed to hear him singHis song of love.—I fear my speech distortingHis tender love.The phrases of his pleadingWere full of young delight;And she that gave him heedingInterpreted arightHis gay, sweet notes,—So sadly marred in the reading,—His tender notes.And when he ceased, the hearerAwaited the refrain,Till swiftly perching nearerHe sang his song again,His pretty song:—Would that my verse spake clearerHis tender song!Ye happy, airy creatures!That in the merry springThink not of what misfeaturesOr cares the year may bring;But unto loveResign your simple natures,To tender love.
I heard a linnet courtingHis lady in the spring:His mates were idly sporting,Nor stayed to hear him singHis song of love.—I fear my speech distortingHis tender love.The phrases of his pleadingWere full of young delight;And she that gave him heedingInterpreted arightHis gay, sweet notes,—So sadly marred in the reading,—His tender notes.And when he ceased, the hearerAwaited the refrain,Till swiftly perching nearerHe sang his song again,His pretty song:—Would that my verse spake clearerHis tender song!Ye happy, airy creatures!That in the merry springThink not of what misfeaturesOr cares the year may bring;But unto loveResign your simple natures,To tender love.
I heard a linnet courtingHis lady in the spring:His mates were idly sporting,Nor stayed to hear him singHis song of love.—I fear my speech distortingHis tender love.The phrases of his pleadingWere full of young delight;And she that gave him heedingInterpreted arightHis gay, sweet notes,—So sadly marred in the reading,—His tender notes.And when he ceased, the hearerAwaited the refrain,Till swiftly perching nearerHe sang his song again,His pretty song:—Would that my verse spake clearerHis tender song!Ye happy, airy creatures!That in the merry springThink not of what misfeaturesOr cares the year may bring;But unto loveResign your simple natures,To tender love.
I heard a linnet courtingHis lady in the spring:His mates were idly sporting,Nor stayed to hear him singHis song of love.—I fear my speech distortingHis tender love.
I heard a linnet courting
His lady in the spring:
His mates were idly sporting,
Nor stayed to hear him sing
His song of love.—
I fear my speech distorting
His tender love.
The phrases of his pleadingWere full of young delight;And she that gave him heedingInterpreted arightHis gay, sweet notes,—So sadly marred in the reading,—His tender notes.
The phrases of his pleading
Were full of young delight;
And she that gave him heeding
Interpreted aright
His gay, sweet notes,—
So sadly marred in the reading,—
His tender notes.
And when he ceased, the hearerAwaited the refrain,Till swiftly perching nearerHe sang his song again,His pretty song:—Would that my verse spake clearerHis tender song!
And when he ceased, the hearer
Awaited the refrain,
Till swiftly perching nearer
He sang his song again,
His pretty song:—
Would that my verse spake clearer
His tender song!
Ye happy, airy creatures!That in the merry springThink not of what misfeaturesOr cares the year may bring;But unto loveResign your simple natures,To tender love.
Ye happy, airy creatures!
That in the merry spring
Think not of what misfeatures
Or cares the year may bring;
But unto love
Resign your simple natures,
To tender love.