Surcharged with discontent

Surcharged with discontent,

To Sylvane's bower I went

To ease my heavy grief-opposed heart,

And try what comfort winged creatures,

Could yield unto my inward troubled smart

By modulating their delightful measures

To my ears pleasing ever.

Of strains so sweet, sweet birds deprive us never.

The thrush did pipe full clear

And eke with very merry cheer.

The linnet lifted up her pleasant voice

The goldfinch chirped and the pie did chatter

The blackbird whistled and bid me rejoice

The stock dove murmured with a solemn flat,

The little daw ka-ka, ka-ka he cried

The hic-quail he beside

Tickled his part in a parti-coloured coat.

The jay did blow his how boy gallantly

The wren did treble many a pretty note

The woodpecker did hammer melody.

The kite tiw whiw full oft

Cried soaring up aloft

And down again returned presently.

To whom the herald of cornutos all

Sung cuckoo ever, whilst poor Margery

Cried: Who did ring night's 'larum bell withal?

All did do well. O might I hear them ever.

Of strains so sweet, sweet birds deprive us never.

Then Hesperus on high brought cloudy night in sky;

When lo, the thicket-keeping company

Of feathered singers left their madrigals,

Sonnets and elegies, and presently

Shut them within their mossy severals.

And I came home and vowed to love them ever.

Of strains so sweet, sweet birds deprive us never.