The BIRDS Harmony.  
The Sylvan woods seemed to complain  
of gross inconstancy, the Birds in vain  
Did warble forth their griefs to ease their mind  
and all did Sympathise, though ease none finds  
Tune, The delights of the bottle etc.  
 
 

AS I was walking in the shade  
which Summer's heat with leaves has made  
●he Birds did seem for to lament.  
●nd did complain of grief and discontent;  
●ut as they fled from Tree to Tree,  
●●ey made such moan as sorely troubled me.   

●hen came the Cookooe bold and stout,  
●●ying the Country round about,  
●hile other birds her young ones feed,  
●nd they for help of others stand in need,  
●●e Sire unkind no care doth take  
●t lea●es the young ones ●ome strange shift to make   

Then said the Blackbird as she fled,  
I had a Love but now she's dead,  
And now my love I dearly lack,  
which is the cause that I do go in black,  
And by myself I sadly mourn,  
like one forsaken, helpless, and forlorn.   

Then said the pretty Nightingale,  
attend and hear my mournful tale,  
Whilst other Birds do sleep, I mourn,  
leaning my breast against some prickly thorn,  
And in the silent darksome night,  
to send forth mournful Notes I take delight.   
 
 

Then said the Sparrow from her Nest,  
I had a Love but 'twas in test,  
And ever since for that same thing  
I made a promise I would never sing,  
Which I intent for my love's sake,  
that I will keep, and will by no means break.   

Then said the Lark upon the grass,  
once I did love a pretty Lass,  
But she'd not hear her true Love sing,  
although she had a voice would please a King;  
And since on high into the Air  
I fly, that none my warbling voice may hear.   

Then next poor Robin she expressed,  
what changed the colour of her breast  
Because her love he would not yield:  
she would desert the Grove and flowery field?  
And near the Houses there complain  
in Winter Morn, how she did love in vain.   

The Swallow with the wings so long,  
complained that she received wrong,  
And being past all kind of hopes  
of love, complained in strange confused Notes:  
No one can understand her tale,  
in such disorder she doth brawl and rail.   

The Thresh also did make her moan,  
and says that kindness she found none,  
But love to be in silent holes,  
where none may hear how she her case condoules  
Far from the Houses in the wood  
she chants her Notes, so little understood.   

The little Renn whose love unkind  
did cause those griefs to cease her mind:  
Which hindered her to grow or thrive,  
because her love no longer could survive;  
This was the cause she was so small,  
her love being dead she could not thrive at all.   

Thus may you see how little Birds  
do grieve for love in mournful words,  
Let men and women than be true  
and constant to each others, so that you  
In peace may live, and when you die,  
you then may boast of Truth and Loyalty.   

Let not your minds be discomposed  
when your poor eyes must needs be closed,  
But rather let your faithful mind  
be such as you from thence may comfort find:  
Be kind, be true, that so you may  
find peace on Earth, comfort another day.   

Who so proves faithful, firm, and true,  
shall have no reason for to rue,  
But Triumph over grim faced death,  
when he shall come to stop his latest breath;  
Young people all let this you move,  
for to be true and loyal in your love.    

LONDON Printed for M. Coles. T. Vere. J. Wright. J. Clark. W Thackery, and T, Passenger.