Welcome in the jocund spring
    Which bids all men lovers be! 
  Maidens, up with carolling,
    With your sweethearts stout and free,
    With roses and with blossoms ye
  Who deck yourselves this first of May!

  Up, and forth into the pure
    Meadows, mid the trees and flowers! 
  Every beauty is secure
    With so many bachelors: 
    Beasts and birds amid the bowers
  Burn with love this first of May.

  Maidens, who are young and fair,
    Be not harsh, I counsel you;
  For your youth cannot repair
    Her prime of spring, as meadows do: 
    None be proud, but all be true
  To men who love, this first of May.

  Dance and carol every one
    Of our band so bright and gay! 
  See your sweethearts how they run
    Through the jousts for you to-day! 
    She who saith her lover nay,
  Will deflower the sweets of May,

  Lads in love take sword and shield
    To make pretty girls their prize: 
  Yield ye, merry maidens, yield
    To your lovers’ vows and sighs: 
    Give his heart back ere it dies: 
  Wage not war this first of May.

  He who steals another’s heart,
    Let him give his own heart too: 
  Who’s the robber?  ’Tis the smart
    Little cherub Cupid, who
    Homage comes to pay with you,
  Damsels, to the first of May.

  Love comes smiling; round his head
    Lilies white and roses meet: 
  ’Tis for you his flight is sped. 
    Fair one, haste our king to greet: 
    Who will fling him blossoms sweet
  Soonest on this first of May?

  Welcome, stranger! welcome, king! 
    Love, what hast thou to command? 
  That each girl with wreaths should ring
    Her lover’s hair with loving hand,
    That girls small and great should band
  In Love’s ranks this first of May.

The Canto Carnascialesco, for the final development if not for the invention of which all credit must be given to Lorenzo de’ Medici, does not greatly differ from the Maggio in structure.  It admitted, however, of great varieties, and was generally more complex in its interweaving of rhymes.  Yet the essential principle of an exordium which should also serve for a refrain, was rarely, if ever, departed from.  Two specimens of the Carnival Song will serve to bring into close contrast two very different aspects of Florentine history.  The earlier was composed by Lorenzo de’ Medici at the height of his power and in the summer of Italian independence.  It was sung by masquers attired in classical costume, to represent Bacchus and his crew.

  Fair is youth and void of sorrow;
    But it hourly flies away.—­
    Youths and maids, enjoy to-day;
  Nought ye know about to-morrow.

  This is Bacchus and the bright
    Ariadne, lovers true! 
  They, in flying time’s despite,
    Each with each find pleasure new;
  These their Nymphs, and all their crew
    Keep perpetual holiday.—­
    Youths and maids, enjoy to-day;
  Nought ye know about to-morrow.