| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Anonymous. 15th Cent. |
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| 22. May in the Green-Wood |
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| IN somer when the shawes be sheyne, | |
| And leves be large and long, | |
| Hit is full merry in feyre foreste | |
| To here the foulys song. | |
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| To se the dere draw to the dale | 5 |
| And leve the hilles hee, | |
| And shadow him in the leves grene | |
| Under the green-wode tree. | |
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| Hit befell on Whitsontide | |
| Early in a May mornyng, | 10 |
| The Sonne up faire can shyne, | |
| And the briddis mery can syng. | |
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| 'This is a mery mornyng,' said Litulle Johne, | |
| 'Be Hym that dyed on tre; | |
| A more mery man than I am one | 15 |
| Lyves not in Christiantè. | |
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| 'Pluk up thi hert, my dere mayster,' | |
| Litulle Johne can say, | |
| 'And thynk hit is a fulle fayre tyme | |
| In a mornynge of May.' | 20 |
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