Ballads and Lyrics

Front Cover
K. Paul, Trench, Trübner, 1891 - English poetry - 153 pages
 

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 6 - ALL in the April evening, April airs were abroad, The sheep with their little lambs Passed me by on the road. The sheep with their little lambs Passed me by on the road ; All in the April evening I thought on the Lamb of God . The lambs were weary, and crying With a weak, human cry. I thought on the Lamb of God Going meekly to die.
Page 7 - Passed me by on the road; All in the April evening I thought on the Lamb of God. The lambs were weary, and crying With a weak human cry, I thought on the Lamb of God Going meekly to die. Up in the blue, blue mountains Dewy pastures are sweet: Rest for the little bodies, Rest for the little feet. But for the Lamb of God Up on the hill-top green, Only a Cross of shame Two stark crosses between.
Page 2 - Turning to the white swan wet, despairing eyes; " O," she saith, " my young one." " O," she saith, " my dearie," Casts her wings about him with a storm of cries. Woe for Lir's sweet children whom their vile stepmother Glamoured with her witch-spells for a thousand years; Died their father raving — on his throne another— Blind before the end came from his burning tears.
Page 64 - Yet, seeing His hands have made Even thee, thou wicked one, I bring no malison, But blessing bring instead. "And I will purchase peace Between this folk and thee, So love for hate shall be, And all thy sinning cease. " Say, wilt thou have it so ? " Thereat, far off, we saw The beast lift up his paw, His great tail wagging go. Our father took the paw Into his blessed hand, Knelt down upon the sand Facing the creature's jaw. That were a sight to see : Agobio's folk trooped out ; They heard not all...
Page 5 - Dews are in the clear air, and the roselight paling, Over sands and sedges shines the evening star, And the moon's disc lonely high in heaven is sailing, Silvered all the spear-heads of the rushes are, — Housed warm are all things as the night grows colder, Water-fowl and sky-fowl dreamless in the nest ; But the swans go drifting, drooping wing and shoulder, Cleaving the still water where the fishes rest.
Page 88 - The Witch MARGARET GRADY — I fear she will burn — Charmed the butter off my churn; 'Tis I would know it the wide world over, Yellow as saffron, scented with clover. At Omagh market the witch displayed it: 111 she had gathered, ill she had made it. Hid in my cloak's hood, one glance I threw it, Passed on smiling; my troth! I knew it! Sheila, the kindest cow in the parish, Mild and silken, and good to cherish, 10 Shame her own gold butter should leave her To enrich the milk of a low-bred heifer!
Page 57 - You must be troubled, Asthore, Because last night you came And stood on the moonlit floor, And called again my name. In dreams I felt your tears, In dreams mine eyes were wet; 0, dead for seven long years ! And can you not forget? Are you not happy yet? The mass-bell shall "be rung, The mass "be said and sung, And God will surely hear; Go "back and sleep, my dear! You went away when you heard The red cock's clarion crow. You have given my heart a sword, You have given my...
Page 3 - mid the reeds and rushes, Lined with downy feathers where the cygnets sleep Dreaming, if a bird dreams, till the daylight blushes, Then they sail out swiftly on the current deep, With the proud swan-father, tall, and strong, and stately, And the mild swan-mother, grave with household cares, All well-born and comely, all rejoicing greatly : Full of honest pleasure is a life like theirs. But alas ! for my swans, with the human nature, Sick with human longings, starved with human ties, With their hearts...
Page 66 - ... they make Peace, for the Lord Christ's sake, With this poor wolf of his ; And told them of their sins, How each was deadlier far Than wolves or lions are, Or sharks with sword-like fins. Afterwards some came near, Took the beast's paw and shook, And 'answered his sad look With words of honest cheer. Our father, ere he went, Bade that each one should leave Some food at morn and eve For his poor penitent. And so, three years or more, The wolf came morn and even, Yea, long forgiven and shriven,...
Page 1 - Chequered with the black rooks flying home to bed ; For, to wake at daybreak birds must couch them early, And the day's a long one since the dawn was red. On the chilly lakelet, in that pleasant gloaming, See the sad swans sailing : they shall have no rest : Never a voice to greet them save the bittern's booming Where the ghostly sallows sway against the West. ' Sister,' saith the grey swan, ' Sister, I am weary,' Turning to the white swan wet, despairing eyes ; ' O,' she saith,

Bibliographic information