36 Lullaby of an Infant Chief OH! hush thee, my babie, thy sire was a knight, The woods and the glens, from the towers which we see, Oh! fear not the bugle, though loudly it blows, Oh! hush thee, my babie, the time soon will come, When thy sleep shall be broken by trumpet and drum ; Then hush thee, my darling, take rest while you may, For strife comes with manhood, and waking with day. Scott, 1815. 37 A Faery Song (SUNG BY THE FAIRIES OVER AN OUTLAW AND HIS BRIDE WHO HAD ESCAPED INTO THE MOUNTAINS.) WE who are old, old and gay, O so old! Thousand of years, thousand of years, If all were told : Give to these children, new from the world, And the long dew-dropping hours of the night, 38* Give to these children, new from the world, Is anything better, anything better? It is not growing like a tree In bulk, doth make men better be; Or standing long an oak, three hundred year, Is fairer far in May, Although it fall and die that night; 39* Ben Jonson. Life Joy and Woe are woven fine, Safely through the World we go. Blake. 40* Hymn on the Morning of It was the Winter wild, I While the Heav'n-born-child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Nature in awe to him Had doff'd her gaudy trim, With her great Master so to sympathize : It was no season then for her To wanton with the Sun her lusty Paramour. To hide her guilty front with innocent Snow; And on her naked shame, Pollute with sinful blame, The saintly Veil of maiden white to throw, Confounded, that her Maker's eyes Should look so near upon her foul deformities. But he, her fears to cease, III Sent down the meek-eyed Peace; She, crown'd with Olive green, came softly sliding Down through the turning sphere His ready Harbinger, With Turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing; And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes a universal Peace through Sea and Land. 1. paramour] lover. III. turning sphere]*. II. front] forehead. harbinger] herald. turtle] dove. No War, or Battle's sound IV Was heard the World around, The idle spear and shield were high up-hung; The hooked Chariot stood Unstain'd with hostile blood, The Trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And Kings sat still with aweful eye, As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by. But peaceful was the night V Wherein the Prince of light His reign of peace upon the earth began : The Winds with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kiss'd, Whispering new joys to the mild Ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While Birds of Calm sit brooding on the charmèd wave. The Stars with deep amaze VI Stand fix'd in stedfast gaze, Bending one way their precious influence, And will not take their flight, For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence; But in their glimmering Orbs did glow, Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. VII And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, The Sun himself with-held his wonted speed, IV. hooked] with hooks on axles. v. whist] hushed. And hid his head for shame, As his inferior flame The new enlightn'd world no more should need: He saw a greater Sun appear Than his bright Throne or burning Axletree could bear. VIII The Shepherds on the Lawn, Or ere the point of dawn, Sat simply chatting in a rustic row; Full little thought they than, That the mighty Pan Was kindly come to live with them below; Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. When such music sweet IX Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger strook, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringèd noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took : The Air such pleasure loth to lose, With thousand echoes still prolongs each heav'nly close. X Nature, that heard such sound Beneath the hollow round Of Cynthia's seat. the Airy region thrilling, Now was almost won To think her part was done, And that her reign had here its last fulfilling ; She knew such harmony alone Could hold all Heav'n and Earth in happier uniòn, axle-tree] the fixed beam on which the wheels turn. VII. as] as if. VIII. or ere] before. than] old form of then. silly] simple. x. round, etc.]*. |