SONG. My silks and fine array, My smiles and languished air, By love are driven away; And mournful lean Despair Brings me yew to deck my grave: His face is fair as heaven When springing buds unfold; Oh, why to him was 't given Whose heart is wintry cold? His breast is love's all-worshipped tomb Where all love's pilgrims come. Bring me an axe and spade, Bring me a winding sheet; SONG. Memory, hither come And tune your merry notes; And while upon the wind Your music floats, I'll pore upon the stream Where sighing lovers dream, And fish for fancies as they pass I'll drink of the clear stream, And hear the linnet's song, And when night comes I'll go Walking along the darkened valley, With silent Melancholy. MAD SONG. The wild winds weep, And my griefs enfold: Over the eastern steeps, And the rustling beds of dawn The earth do scorn. Lo! to the vault Of paved heaven With sorrow fraught My notes are driven; They strike the ear of night, They make mad the roaring winds Like a fiend in a cloud With howling woe After night I do crowd And with night will go; I turn my back to the east From whence comforts have increased; For light doth seize my brain With frantic pain. TO THE MUSES. Whether on Ida's shady brow, Where the melodious winds have birth; Whether on crystal rocks ye rove How have you left your ancient love [From Songs of Innocence.] INTRODUCTION. Piping down the valleys wild, 'Pipe a song about a lamb:' 'Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe, Little lamb, who made thee? Little lamb, who made thee? Little lamb I'll tell thee; Little lamb, I'll tell thee. Little lamb, God bless thee! NIGHT. The sun descending in the west, The evening star does shine; The moon, like a flower In heaven's high bower, Sits and smiles on the night. Farewell, green fields and happy grove, Where flocks have ta'en delight; Where lambs have nibbled, silent move They look in every thoughtless nest, To keep them all from harm. That should have been sleeping, They pour sleep on their head, When wolves and tigers howl for prey They pitying stand and weep, Seeking to drive their thirst away, And keep them from the sheep. But if they rush dreadful And there the lion's ruddy eyes And pitying the tender cries, And walking round the fold, Saying: 'Wrath by His meekness, And by His health sickness, Are driven away From our immortal day. |