The Posy Ring Part 19

With one knee on the gra.s.s did the little maiden kneel, While to that mountain-lamb she gave its evening meal.

The lamb, while from her hand he thus his supper took, Seemed to feast, with head and ears, and his tail with pleasure shook.

"Drink, pretty creature, drink!" she said, in such a tone That I almost received her heart into my own.

'Twas little Barbara Lewthwaite, a child of beauty rare!

I watched them with delight; they were a lovely pair.

Now with her empty can the maiden turned away, But ere ten yards were gone her footsteps did she stay.

Right toward the lamb she looked; and from a shady place, I, un.o.bserved, could see the workings of her face.

If nature to her tongue could measured numbers bring, Thus, thought I, to her lamb that little maid might sing:--

"What ails thee, young one? what? Why pull so at thy cord?

Is it not well with thee? well both for bed and board?

Thy plot of gra.s.s is soft, and green as gra.s.s can be; Rest, little young one, rest; what is't that aileth thee?

"What is it thou would'st seek? What is wanting to thy heart?

Thy limbs, are they not strong? and beautiful thou art.

This gra.s.s is tender gra.s.s, these flowers they have no peers, And that green corn all day is rustling in thy ears.

"If the sun be shining hot, do but stretch thy woollen chain,-- This beech is standing by,--its covert thou canst gain.

For rain and mountain storms, the like thou need'st not fear; The rain and storm are things that scarcely can come here.

"Rest, little young one, rest; thou hast forgot the day When my father found thee first, in places far away.

Many flocks were on the hills, but thou wert owned by none, And thy mother from thy side forevermore was gone.

"He took thee in his arms, and in pity brought thee home,-- A blessed day for thee!--Then whither would'st thou roam?

A faithful nurse thou hast; the dam that did thee yean Upon the mountain-tops no kinder could have been.

"Thou know'st that twice a day I have brought thee in this can Fresh water from the brook, as clear as ever ran; And twice in the day, when the ground was wet with dew, I bring thee draughts of milk,--warm milk it is, and new.

"Thy limbs will shortly be twice as stout as they are now; Then I'll yoke thee to my cart, like a pony to the plough, My playmate thou shalt be, and when the wind is cold, Our hearth shall be thy bed, our house shall be thy fold.

"It will not, will not rest! Poor creature, can it be That 'tis thy mother's heart which is working so in thee?

Things that I know not of belike to thee are dear, And dreams of things which thou canst neither see nor hear.

"Alas, the mountain-tops that look so green and fair!

I've heard of fearful winds and darkness that come there.

The little brooks, that seem all pastime and all play, When they are angry roar like lions for their prey.

"Here thou need'st not dread the raven in the sky; Night and day thou art safe--our cottage is hard by.

Why bleat so after me? why pull so at thy chain?

Sleep,--and at break of day I will come to thee again!"

As homeward through the lane I went with lazy feet, This song to myself did I oftentimes repeat; And it seemed, as I retraced the ballad line by line, That but half of it was hers and one half of it was mine.

Again and once again did I repeat the song: "Nay," said I, "more than half to the damsel must belong; For she looked with such a look, and she spake with such a tone, That I almost received her heart into my own."

William Wordsworth.

_The Kitten, and Falling Leaves_

See the kitten on the wall, Sporting with the leaves that fall, Withered leaves--one--two--and three-- From the lofty elder tree!

Through the calm and frosty air Of this morning bright and fair, Eddying round and round they sink Softly, slowly: one might think From the motions that are made, Every little leaf conveyed Sylph or fairy hither tending, To this lower world descending, Each invisible and mute, In his wavering parachute.

But the kitten, how she starts, Crouches, stretches, paws and darts!

First at one and then its fellow, Just as light and just as yellow; There are many now--now one-- Now they stop and there are none: What intenseness of desire In her upward eye of fire!

With a tiger-leap, half-way, Now she meets the coming prey; Lets it go as fast and then Has it in her power again.

Now she works with three or four, Like an Indian conjuror; Quick as he in feats of art, Far beyond in joy of heart.

William Wordsworth.

VI

OTHER LITTLE CHILDREN

_If thou couldst know thine own sweetness, O little one, perfect and sweet, Thou wouldst be a child forever; Completer whilst incomplete._

_Francis Turner Palgrave._

OTHER LITTLE CHILDREN

_Where Go the Boats?_[A]

Dark brown is the river, Golden is the sand.

It flows along forever With trees on either hand.

Green leaves a-floating, Castles of the foam, Boats of mine a-boating-- Where will all come home?

On goes the river And out past the mill, Away down the valley, Away down the hill.

Away down the river, A hundred miles or more, Other little children Shall bring my boats ash.o.r.e.