NEW MAY SONG

Come listen awhile unto what we say,
Concerning the season, the month we call May;
For the flowers are springing, and the birds they do sing,
And the baziers* are sweet in the morning of May.

When the trees are in bloom, and the meadows are green,
The sweet smelling cowslips are plain to be seen;
The sweet ties of nature, which we plainly do see,
For the baziers are sweet in the morning of May.

All creatures are deem'd, in their station below,
Such comforts of love on each other bestow;
Our flocks they're folded, and young lambs sweetly do play,
And the baziers are sweet in the morning of May.

So now to conclude, with much freedom and love,
The sweetest of blessings proceeds from above;
Let us join in our song that right happy may we be,
For we'll bless with contentment in the morning of May**

*The bazier is the name given in this part of Lancashire to the auricula, which is usually found in full bloom in April. This name is not to be found in Gerard's History of Plants, or Culpepper's British Herbal, or in the glossaries of Halliwell, Nares, &c. The auricula was introduced into this country from Switzerland about the year 1567. Can its Lancashire name, say base-ear (i.e. low ear) have any relation to the name auricula? (q.d. little ear).

** This line would read better thus:
'For we're blest with content in the morning of May.'