The setting is a portion of the journeyman-shoemaker James Woodhouse's poem written for William Shenstone Esq. (his patron), "upon his indisposition in the Spring, 1762".

Holder described himself in the frontispiece of his collection of glees, Op. 6 as organist of Bungay, Suffolk.

Lyrics: James Woodhouse

Ye flow'ry plains, ye breezy woods,
Ye bowers and gay alcoves,
Ye falling streams, ye silver floods,
Ye grottos and ye groves:
The flowers disclose a thousand blooms,
A thousand scents diffuse;
Yet all in vain they shed perfumes,
In vain display their hues.