To The Spring

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!