| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| ROses their sharpe spines being gon, | Roses, their sharp spines being gone, | TNK I.i.1 |
| Not royall in their smels alone, | Not royal in their smells alone, | TNK I.i.2 |
| But in their hew. | But in their hue, | TNK I.i.3 |
| Maiden Pinckes, of odour faint, | Maiden pinks, of odour faint, | TNK I.i.4 |
| Dazies smel-lesse, yet most quaint | Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint, | TNK I.i.5 |
| And sweet Time true. | And sweet thyme true, | TNK I.i.6 |
| Prim-rose first borne, child of Ver, | Primrose, first-born child of Ver, | TNK I.i.7 |
| Merry Spring times Herbinger, | Merry springtime's harbinger, | TNK I.i.8 |
| With her bels dimme. | With harebells dim, | TNK I.i.9 |
| Oxlips, in their Cradles growing, | Oxlips, in their cradles growing, | TNK I.i.10 |
| Mary-golds, on death beds blowing, | Marigolds, on deathbeds blowing, | TNK I.i.11 |
| Larkes-heeles trymme. | Lark's-heels trim, | TNK I.i.12 |
| All deere natures children: sweete- | All dear Nature's children sweet, | TNK I.i.13 |
| Ly fore Bride and Bridegroomes feete | Lie 'fore bride and bridegroom's feet, | TNK I.i.14 |
| Blessing their sence. | Blessing their sense. | TNK I.i.15 |
| | | |
| Not an angle of the aire, | Not an angel of the air, | TNK I.i.16 |
| Bird melodious, or bird faire, | Bird melodious or bird fair, | TNK I.i.17 |
| Is absent hence. | Is absent hence; | TNK I.i.18 |
| The Crow, the slaundrous Cuckoe, nor | The crow, the slanderous cuckoo, nor | TNK I.i.19 |
| The boding Raven, nor Clough hee | The boding raven, nor chough hoar, | TNK I.i.20 |
| Nor chattring Pie, | Nor chattering pie, | TNK I.i.21 |
| May on our Bridehouse pearch or sing, | May on our bridehouse perch or sing, | TNK I.i.22 |
| Or with them any discord bring | Or with them any discord bring, | TNK I.i.23 |
| But from it fly. | But from it fly. | TNK I.i.24 |