The Golden Treasury of English Songs and Lyrics/Book 1/Poem 42

by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

For other versions of this work, see Blow, blow, thou winter wind.

xlii

Blow, blow, thou winter wind. Thou art not so unkind As man’s ingratitude; Thy tooth is not so keen Because thou art not seen,Although thy breath be rude.Heigh ho! sing heigh ho! unto the green holly:Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:Then, heigh ho! the holly!This life is most jolly.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,Thou dost not bite so nighAs benefits forgot:Though thou the waters warp,Thy sting is not so sharpAs friend remember’d not.Heigh ho! sing heigh ho! unto the green holly:Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:Then, heigh ho! the holly!This life is most jolly.W. Shakespeare