THE MERRY BEGGARS

(from "A Jovial Crew, or the Merry Beggars," 1652)

by: Richard Brome (c. 1590-1652)

OME, come away! the spring,

By every bird that can but sing,

Or chirp a note, doth now invite

Us forth to taste of his delight,

In field, in grove, on hill, in dale;

But above all the nightingale,

Who in her sweetness strives t'outdo

The loudness of the hoarse cuckoo.

"Cuckoo," cries he; "Jug, jug, jug," sings she;

From bush to bush, from tree to tree:

Why in one place then tarry we?

 

Come away! why do we stay?

We have no debt or rent to pay;

No bargains or accounts to make,

Nor land or lease to let or take:

Or if we had, should that remore us

When all the world's our own before us,

And where we pass and make resort,

It is our kingdom and our court?

"Cuckoo," cries he; "Jug, jug, jug," sings she;

From bush to bush, from tree to tree:

Why in one place then tarry we?

• Richard Brome - A biography of the English dramatist and servant of Ben Jonson.
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