Who is Myrson in the spring poem?

Myrson is just the name of the second speaker in the dialogue — the one who responds to the question about seasons. This name originates from Bion's original Greek text. He serves as a relatable philosopher, someone who has reflected on his values and is open to expressing them clearly.

Why does Myrson say 'thrice welcome' to spring?

"Thrice welcome" is an old expression that conveys a greeting of "welcome three times over," adding extra warmth. It was frequently used in Greek and Latin poetry to express warmth and enthusiasm. Field retains it because it lends a formal, almost ceremonial tone that fits well with the pastoral tradition.

What is the coat poem really about — is it just about a coat?

The coat is real, but it symbolizes so much more. It’s a way to discuss aging, memory, and the things we cling to from our past. By the end, the coat embodies the speaker's entire life — his youthful friendships, his love affairs, and his values. When he asks the coat not to leave, he's really asking time to slow down.

Lisette is a woman from the speaker's past—a lover, as the context suggests. She once grabbed his sleeve to stop him from leaving a party, causing it to tear, and then spent three days fixing it. In many of Béranger's poems, she reappears as a symbol of youthful romance and the joys of simple pleasures.

What does the Socrates reference mean?

Socrates was known for his indifference to material comforts, often wearing the same simple cloak no matter the weather or the occasion. The speaker humorously suggests that by brushing his coat daily for years, he has been just as committed to it as Socrates was to his. This is a self-deprecating way of embracing a humble philosophy.

What does Field mean by 'ribbons in the royal mart'?

He refers to the decorations, honors, and rewards that kings and courts give to flatterers and ambitious courtiers. The speaker is expressing that he has never worn his coat to pursue that kind of recognition. A wildflower from the roadside is a much better adornment for someone who values honesty more than status.

Why did Field translate these two poems together?

Both poems convey a similar sentiment: finding joy in simple things, valuing authenticity over trendiness, and embracing the fleeting nature of life. Spring and an old coat may seem like modest topics, yet both poems celebrate them with genuine warmth. By pairing these images, Field subtly suggests that the most meaningful aspects of life are often those that go unnoticed by many.

The Annotated Edition

A SPRING POEM FROM BION by Eugene Field

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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Poet: Eugene Field
Themes: friendship, memory, nature

The PoemFull text

A SPRING POEM FROM BION

Eugene Field

One asketh: "Tell me, Myrson, tell me true: What's the season pleaseth you? Is it summer suits you best, When from harvest toil we rest? Is it autumn with its glory Of all surfeited desires? Is it winter, when with story And with song we hug our fires? Or is spring most fair to you-- Come, good Myrson, tell me true!" Another answereth: "What the gods in wisdom send We should question not, my friend; Yet, since you entreat of me, I will answer reverently: Me the summertime displeases, For its sun is scorching hot; Autumn brings such dire diseases That perforce I like it not; As for biting winter, oh! How I hate its ice and snow! "But, thrice welcome, kindly spring, With the myriad gifts you bring! Not too hot nor yet too cold, Graciously your charms unfold-- Oh, your days are like the dreaming Of those nights which love beseems, And your nights have all the seeming Of those days of golden dreams! Heaven smiles down on earth, and then Earth smiles up to heaven again!" BÉRANGER'S "TO MY OLD COAT." Still serve me in my age, I pray, As in my youth, O faithful one; For years I've brushed thee every day-- Could Socrates have better done? What though the fates would wreak on thee The fulness of their evil art? Use thou philosophy, like me-- And we, old friend, shall never part! I think--I _often_ think of it-- The day we twain first faced the crowd; My roistering friends impeached your fit, But you and I were very proud! Those jovial friends no more make free With us (no longer new and smart), But rather welcome you and me As loving friends that should not part. The patch? Oh, yes--one happy night-- "Lisette," says I, "it's time to go"-- She clutched this sleeve to stay my flight, Shrieking: "What! leave so early? No!" To mend the ghastly rent she'd made, Three days she toiled, dear patient heart! And I--right willingly I staid-- Lisette decreed we should not part! No incense ever yet profaned This honest, shiny warp of thine, Nor hath a courtier's eye disdained Thy faded hue and quaint design; Let servile flattery be the price Of ribbons in the royal mart-- A roadside posie shall suffice For us two friends that must not part! Fear not the recklessness of yore Shall re-occur to vex thee now; Alas, I am a youth no more-- I'm old and sere, and so art thou! So bide with me unto the last And with thy warmth caress this heart That pleads, by memories of the Past, That two such friends should never part!

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

This poem consists of two distinct pieces by Eugene Field: one is a translation of a classic spring dialogue from the ancient Greek poet Bion, and the other is a translation of a French poem by Béranger that expresses a man's fondness for his old coat. In the first piece, one speaker asks another about his favorite season, receiving a joyful response that celebrates spring. In the second, a man talks to his tattered coat as if it were a lifelong friend, reminiscing about their shared memories and pleading for it to remain with him until the end.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

One asketh: / "Tell me, Myrson, tell me true:"
Editor's note
The poem begins with a classic dialogue—one speaker asks Myrson which season he likes best. Following this is a list of seasons, a technique taken from ancient pastoral poetry: each season is given a lively, concise description (harvest rest for summer, "surfeited desires" for autumn, fireside stories for winter) before hitting the main question: what about spring?
Another answereth: / "What the gods in wisdom send"
Editor's note
Myrson begins his reply with a humble disclaimer—he doesn’t want to come off as ungrateful for anything the gods bestow. This polite gesture is a typical tactic in classical poetry, easing the reader into what will soon be a straightforward list of grievances. He then goes through summer (too hot), autumn (brings illness), and winter (ice and snow) before expressing his genuine affection for the season he truly loves.
"But, thrice welcome, kindly spring,"
Editor's note
This is the emotional peak of the first poem. Spring is celebrated not just for its pleasant weather but for its dreamlike essence — its days feel like enchanting nights, and its nights feel like radiant days. The closing couplet, depicting heaven and earth smiling at one another, lends spring a cosmic, nearly spiritual importance. It's a simple yet truly beautiful image.
Still serve me in my age, I pray, / As in my youth, O faithful one;
Editor's note
The Béranger translation opens with the speaker talking to his old coat, requesting that it continues to serve him in his later years just as it did in his youth. The lighthearted reference to Socrates — known for wearing the same simple cloak throughout his life — establishes the mood: this poem discovers genuine dignity and philosophy in everyday, worn items.
I think--I _often_ think of it-- / The day we twain first faced the crowd;
Editor's note
The speaker remembers the day he first wore the coat out in public. His friends made fun of how it fit, but he felt a sense of pride alongside the coat. The italicized "often" shows how much he cherishes this memory — it’s one he revisits frequently. The friends who once teased him have grown to accept both him and the coat now that the excitement of youth has faded for everyone.
The patch? Oh, yes--one happy night--
Editor's note
A specific, charming memory: a woman named Lisette grabbed his sleeve to prevent him from leaving too soon, accidentally tearing it. She took three days to mend it, and he stayed without hesitation. The patch on the coat is like a scar from a love story. Field (following Béranger) uses this detail brilliantly — the coat holds tangible proof of the speaker's romantic history.
No incense ever yet profaned / This honest, shiny warp of thine,
Editor's note
The speaker sets his coat against the lavish attire of courtiers and sycophants. He emphasizes that the coat has never been donned to win favor or seek accolades from royalty. A wildflower picked from the roadside serves as perfect decoration for two genuine friends. This stanza represents the poem's political and moral heart — it suggests that simplicity and authenticity triumph over ambition and status.
Fear not the recklessness of yore / Shall re-occur to vex thee now;
Editor's note
In the final stanza, the speaker reflects on how both he and the coat have aged. The wild days are behind them. He pleads with the coat to remain by his side until the end, drawing on their shared memories. The coat has come to represent the speaker's entire life — losing it would mean losing the last real link to his former self.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The spring dialogue feels warm and celebratory, carrying a light classical formality that remains relaxed. The Béranger translation comes across as affectionate and subtly melancholic — the speaker is upbeat about aging but isn’t entirely deceiving himself. Both poems convey a sense of contentment: a man who has come to terms with what he possesses, be it a season or a coat.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Spring: Spring represents the perfect balance between extremes—not too hot, not too cold. In the poem, it also symbolizes love and dreaming, a season that blurs the boundary between night and day, as well as reality and fantasy.
The old coat: The coat embodies the speaker's entire personal history in fabric form. Its patches, faded color, and worn texture tell the story of his life—his friendships, love affairs, and the passage of time. Taking care of it means taking care of his past self.
The patch: The repaired tear from Lisette's grip is a tangible reminder of a romantic memory. It changes the coat from just a piece of clothing into a keepsake, evidence that love was real and left its mark.
Heaven and earth smiling at each other: This image at the end of the spring poem hints at a balance between the divine and the human. Spring is the only season when the heavens and the earth seem to be in sync — a rare and valuable harmony.
Roadside posie: The wildflower picked from the roadside symbolizes a simple, genuine way of life. It stands in contrast to the "ribbons in the royal mart" — the fruits of flattery and ambition — and proves to be more than enough.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field (1850–1895) was an American journalist and poet who made his mark in Chicago, particularly known for his charming children's poems like "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod." He also dedicated himself to translating and adapting classical and European poetry, and this piece reflects that dual focus. The first section draws inspiration from Bion of Smyrna, a Greek pastoral poet dating back to the 2nd century BCE, whose dialogues and idyllic works were widely translated during the 19th century. The second section adapts a poem by Pierre-Jean de Béranger (1780–1857), a hugely popular French chansonnier whose heartfelt, politically charged songs resonated with audiences throughout Europe. Field's translations prioritize musicality and emotion over strict scholarship — he aimed to capture the essence of the originals rather than provide a literal translation. Both of these source poets celebrated simple joys, the lives of ordinary people, and maintained a gentle skepticism towards authority and pretentiousness.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

They are two distinct translations published together under a single title by Eugene Field. The first one is based on the work of the ancient Greek poet Bion, while the second draws from the French poet Béranger. Field frequently combined short translations in this way in his collections.

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A SPRING POEM FROM BION by Eugene Field

A SPRING POEM FROM BION

What this poem is about

Recurring themes

Stanza by stanza, with notes

How this poem feels

Symbols & metaphors

Historical context

Questions readers ask

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