Dance to greet beautiful May,
  Which renews the hair of the forest,
Which strews red and white arches of colour
  Upon the tops of the fruit trees,
Which, with the gold-bordered veil,
  Covers the waiting meadows!
Sing hymns into the lyre of May,
  Which wakens joy from sleep!

Dance along upon the arm of beauty,
  To which a faithful bosom is enslaved,
Blend songs into the resounding
  Of the morning bell,
Into the rustling of the aspen leaves,
  And awaken the echoes!
[May], the friend of the gods of love,
  Demands sacrifices and singing.

In the green shadows bring to May
  Your springtime offerings,
Young, newly married spouses,
  Upon the festive altar of love:
Kisses when the rooster’s trumpet
  Wakens the bush-enshrouded village,
Kisses when the glow of sunset
  Covers every tree with crimson.

Flee, ye lovely city girls,
  From your city's golden chasms,
From your prisons’ high parapets,
  Drink in the fresh May air!
In your sun-hats wander out
  Into the springtime meadow!
Sing a joyful May-song,
  Pick a posy for your bosom!

Adorn your green sun-hat
  With cherry-blossom sprays,
Tie up your skirts, dance roundelays,
  As the youthful shepherd-folk do!
Zephyrs in the cherry blossoms,
  Flutter your wings until they are fatigued,
Waft many a white petal
  Down upon their sun-hats.