Part 2 — No 89 MIDSUMMER CAROL

1 'Twas early I walked on a midsummer morning, The fields and the meadows were deckèd and gay, The small birds were singing, the woodlands a-ringing, 'Twas early in the morning, at breaking of day, I will play on my pipes, I will sing thee my lay! It is early in the morning, at breaking of day. 2 O hark! and O hark! to the nightingales wooing, The lark is aloft piping shrill in the air. In every green bower the turtle-doves cooing, The sun is just gleaming, arise up my fair! Arise, love, arise! none fairer I spie! Arise, love, arise! O why should I die? 3 Arise, love, arise! go and get your love posies, The fairest of flowers in garden that grows, Go gather me lilies, carnations and roses, I'll wear them with thoughts of the maiden I chose. I stand at thy door, pretty love, full of care, O why should I languish so long in despair? 4[26] O why love, O why, should I banished be from thee? O why should I see my own chosen no more? O why look your parents so slightingly on me? It is all for the rough ragged garments I wore, But dress me with flowers, I'm gay as a king, I'm glad as a bird, when my carol I sing. 5 Arise, love, arise! in song and in story, To rival thy beauty was never a may, I will play thee a tune on my pipes of ivory, It is early in the morning, at breaking of day, I will play on my pipes, I will sing thee my lay! It is early in the morning, at breaking of day.