Green Groweth the Holly

Green Groweth the Holly

Original Text
British Library Add. MS 31922, fols. 37v-38 (attributed to Henry VIII); John Stevens, Music & Poetry in the Early Tudor Court (London: Methuen, 1961): 398-99.
1Green groweth the holly,
2So doth the ivy.
3Though winter blasts blow never so high,
4Green groweth the holly.
5As the holly groweth green
6And never changeth hue,
7So I am, ever hath been,
8Unto my lady true.
9As the holly groweth green
10With ivy all alone
11When flowers cannot be seen
12And greenwood leaves be gone,
13Now unto my lady
14Promise to her I make,
15From all other only
16To her I me betake.
17Adieu, mine own lady,
18Adieu, my special
19Who hath my heart truly
20Be sure, and ever shall.

Notes

1] holly: aquifolia, "the holm tree," having berries without juice and pricking leaves. Back to Line
3] winter: ametrical and possibly an interpolation by someone other than the poet. Back to Line
12] greenwood: ever-young, fresh, not yet matured wood. Back to Line
16] betake: entrust. Back to Line
18] my special: my own one, my private possession. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1522
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1997.
Rhyme
abab