And dragg'd to earth both branch and bough, with crash And merciless ravage; and the shady nook THREE years she grew in sun and shower, Then Nature said, "A lovelier Flower On earth was never sown; This Child I to myself will take, She shall be mine, and I will make A Lady of my own. "Myself will to my darling be In earth and heaven, in glade and bower, To kindle or restrain. "She shall be sportive as the fawn "The floating clouds their state shall lend To her, for her the willow bend, Even in the motions of the storm, A beauty that shall mould her form "The stars of midnight shall be dear Where rivulets dance their wayward round, "And vital feelings of delight Shall rear her form to stately height, Her virgin bosom swell, Such thoughts to Lucy I will give While she and I together live Here in this happy dell." Thus Nature spake-The work was done How soon my Lucy's race was run! She died and left to me This heath, this calm and quiet scene, The memory of what has been, And never more will be. THE PET-LAMB. A PASTORAL. THE dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink; I heard a voice, it said, Drink, pretty Creature! drink: And looking o'er the hedge, before me I espied, A snow-white mountain Lamb with a Maiden at its side. No other sheep were near, the Lamb was all alone, And by a slender cord was tether'd to a stone; With one knee on the grass 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 Seem'd 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 receiv'd her heart into my own. 'Twas little Barbara Lewthwaite, a child of beauty rare, I watch'd them with delight, they were a lovely pair. And now with empty Can the Maiden turn'd away, But ere ten yards were gone her footsteps: did she stay. Towards the Lamb she look'd, and from that shady place I unobserv'd 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 would sing. |