She shall be sportive as the fawn And hers shall be the breathing balm, And hers the silence and the calm The floating clouds their state shall lend To her, for her the willow bend, Nor shall she fail to see Even in the motions of the storm A beauty that shall mould her form The stars of midnight shall be dear To her, and she shall lean her ear In many a secret place Where rivulets dance their wayward round, And beauty born of murmuring sound 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, And never more will be. The PET-LAMB, A PASTORAL. The dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink; No other sheep were near, the Lamb was all alone, 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, Towards the Lamb she look'd, and from that shady place "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 grass is soft, and green as grass 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? If the Sun is shining hot, do but stretch thy woollen chain, Rest, little Young One, rest; thou hast forgot the day 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 is wet with dew I bring thee draughts of milk, warm milk it is and new. |