XXVIII THE RAINBOW A fragment of a rainbow bright An hour ago the storm was here, Grief will be joy if on its edge Joy will be grief if no faint pledge 7. Keble XXIX THE RAVEN AND THE OAK Underneath an old oak tree There was of swine a huge company, That grunted as they crunch'd the mast: For that was ripe and fell full fast. Then they trotted away, for the wind it grew high: One acorn they left and no more might you spy. Next came a Raven that liked not such folly: He belonged, they did say, to the witch Melan choly! Blacker was he than blackest jet, Flew low in the rain and his feathers not wet. He went high and low, Over hill, over dale, did the black Raven go. I can't tell half his adventures. At length he came back, and with him a she, His young ones were killed, for they could not depart, And their mother did die of a broken heart. The boughs from the trunk the woodman did sever; And they floated it down on the course of the river. They sawed it in planks, and its bark they did strip, And with this tree and others they made a good ship. folly: tch Me t wet aight at. en go 1gs: The ship it was launched; but in sight of the land stand. It bulged on a rock, and the waves rushed in fast: He heard the last shriek of the perishing souls→→→ And Death riding home on a cloud he did meet, sweet. XXX ODE TO THE CUCKOO Hail, beauteous stranger of the grove! Now Heaven repairs thy rural seat, What time the daisy decks the green, r? Delightful visitant, with thee I hail the time of flowers, And hear the sound of music sweet From birds among the bowers. The school-boy wandering through the wood To pull the primrose gay, Starts the new voice of spring to hear, And imitates the lay. What time the pea puts on the bloom Thou fliest thy vocal vale, An annual guest in other lands, Sweet bird thy bower is ever green, Thy sky is ever clear; Thou hast no sorrow in thy song, O could I fly, I'd fly with thee ! Michael Bruce. XXXI ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE Come listen to me, you gallants so free, All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold outlaw That lived in Nottinghamshire. As Robin Hood in the forest stood, There he was aware of a brave young man The youngster was cloth'd in scarlet red, In scarlet fine and gay; And he did frisk it over the plain, And chanted a roundelay. As Robin Hood next morning stood Amongst the leaves so gay, There did he espy the same young man, The scarlet he wore the day before And at every step he fetch'd a sigh, Then stepp'd forth brave Little John, And Midge, the miller's son, Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he saw them come. 'Stand off, stand off!' the young man said, 'What is your will with me?' 'You must come before our master straight, Under yon greenwood tree.' And when he came bold Robin before, Robin asked him courteously, 'O, hast thou any money to spare For my merry men and me?' 'I have no money,' the young man said, 'But five shillings and a ring; And that I have kept this seven long years, To have it at my wedding. |