No 47 MAY-DAY CAROL

1 Awake, ye pretty maids, awake, Refreshed from drowsy dream, And haste to dairy house, and take For us a dish of cream. 2 If not a dish of yellow cream, Then give us kisses three; The woodland bower is white with flower, And green is every tree. 3 A branch of May we bear about Before the door it stands; There's not a sprout unbudded out, The work of God's own hands. 4 Awake, awake ye pretty maids, And take the May-bush in, Or 'twill be gone ere tomorrow morn, And you'll have none within. 5 Throughout the night, before the light, There fell the dew or rain, It twinkles bright on May bush white, It sparkles on the plain. 6 The heavenly gates are open wide To let escape the dew, And heavenly grace falls on each place It drops on us and you. 7 The life of man is but a span, He blossoms as a flower, He makes no stay, is here to-day, And vanish'd in an hour.[12] 8 My song is done, I must be gone, Nor make a longer stay. God bless you all, both great and small, And send you gladsome May.