Book 2 / Act 5 — TO THE SPRING.
Reading edition
Welcome, gentle Stripling, Nature's darling thou! With thy basket full of blossoms, A happy welcome now! Aha!—and thou returnest, Heartily we greet thee— The loving and the fair one, Merrily we meet thee! Think'st thou of my maiden In thy heart of glee?
I love her yet, the maiden— And the maiden yet loves me! For the maiden, many a blossom I begged—and not in vain! I came again a-begging, And thou—thou givest again: Welcome, gentle Stripling, Nature's darling thou— With thy basket full of blossoms, A happy welcome now!