Original text | Modern text | Key line |
Song. | SONG | AYL V.iii.14a |
It was a Louer, and his lasse, | It was a lover and his lass, | AYL V.iii.15 |
With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, | With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, | AYL V.iii.16 |
That o're the greene corne feild did passe, | That o'er the green corn field did pass, | AYL V.iii.17 |
In the spring time, the onely pretty rang time. | In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, | AYL V.iii.18 |
When Birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding. | When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding, | AYL V.iii.19 |
Sweet Louers loue the spring, | Sweet lovers love the spring. | AYL V.iii.20 |
Betweene the acres of the Rie, | Between the acres of the rye, | AYL V.iii.21 |
With a hey, and a ho, & a hey nonino: | With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, | AYL V.iii.22 |
These prettie Country folks would lie. | These pretty country folks would lie, | AYL V.iii.23 |
In spring time, &c. | In spring time, the only pretty ring time, | AYL V.iii.24 |
| When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding, | AYL V.iii.25 |
| Sweet lovers love the spring. | AYL V.iii.26 |
This Carroll they began that houre, | This carol they began that hour, | AYL V.iii.27 |
With a hey and a ho, & a hey nonino: | With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, | AYL V.iii.28 |
How that a life was but a Flower, | How that a life was but a flower, | AYL V.iii.29 |
In spring time, &c. | In spring time, the only pretty ring time, | AYL V.iii.30 |
| When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding, | AYL V.iii.31 |
| Sweet lovers love the spring. | AYL V.iii.32 |
And therefore take the present time. | And therefore take the present time, | AYL V.iii.33 |
With a hey, & a ho, and a hey nonino, | With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, | AYL V.iii.34 |
For loue is crowned with the prime. | For love is crowned with the prime, | AYL V.iii.35 |
In spring time, &c. | In spring time, the only pretty ring time, | AYL V.iii.36 |
| When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding, | AYL V.iii.37 |
| Sweet lovers love the spring. | AYL V.iii.38 |