Rural Tales, Ballads, and Songs Part 9

Song.

THE SHEPHERD AND HIS DOG ROVER.

ROVER, awake! the grey c.o.c.k crows!

Come, shake your coat and go with me!

High in the East the green Hill glows; And glory crowns our shelt'ring Tree.

The Sheep expect us at the fold: My faithful Dog, let's haste away, And in his earliest beams behold, And hail, the source of cheerful day.

Half his broad orb o'erlooks the Hill, And darting down the Valley flies: At every cas.e.m.e.nt welcome still; The golden summons of the skies.

Go, fetch my Staff; and o'er the dews Let Echo waft thy gladsome voice.

Shall we a cheerful note refuse When rising Morn proclaims 'Rejoice!'

Now then we'll start; and thus I'll sling Our store, a trivial load to bear: Yet, ere night comes, should hunger sting, I'll not encroach on _Rover's_ share.

The fresh breeze bears its sweets along; The Lark but chides us while we stay: Soon shall the Vale repeat my song; Go brush before, away, away.

HUNTING SONG

Ye darksome Woods where Echo dwells, Where every bud with freedom swells To meet the glorious day: The morning breaks; again rejoice; And with old Ringwood's well-known voice Bid tuneful Echo play.

We come, ye Groves, ye Hills, we come: The vagrant Fox shall hear: his doom, And dread our jovial train.

The shrill Horn sounds, the courser flies, While every Sportsman joyful cries, 'There's Ringwood's voice again.'

Ye Meadows, hail the coming throng; Ye peaceful Streams that wind along, Repeat the Hark-away: Far o'er the Downs, ye Gales that sweep, The daring Oak that crowns the steep, The roaring peal convey.

The chiming notes of chearful Hounds, Hark! how the hollow Dale resounds; The sunny Hills how gay.

But where's the note, brave Dog, like thine?

Then urge the Steed, the chorus join, 'Tis Ringwood leads the way.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

LUCY:

A Song.

Thy favourite Bird is soaring still: My Lucy, haste thee o'er the dale; The Stream's let loose, and from the Mill All silent comes the balmy gale; Yet, so lightly on its way, Seems to whisper 'Holiday.'

The pathway flowers that bending meet And give the Meads their yellow hue, The May-bush and the Meadow-sweet Reserve their fragrance all for you.

Why then, Lucy, why delay?

Let us share the Holiday.

Since there thy smiles, my charming Maid, Are with unfeigned rapture seen, To Beauty be the homage paid; Come, claim the triumph of the Green.

Here's my hand, come, come away; Share the merry Holiday.

A promise too my Lucy made, (And shall my heart its claim resign?) That ere May-flowers again should fade, Her heart and hand should both be mine.

Hark 'ye, Lucy, this is May; Love shall crown our Holiday.

WINTER SONG

Dear Boy, throw that Icicle down, And sweep this deep Snow from the door: Old Winter comes on with a frown; A terrible frown for the poor.

In a Season so rude and forlorn How can age, how can infancy bear The silent neglect and the scorn Of those who have plenty to spare?

Fresh broach'd is my Cask of old Ale, Well-tim'd now the frost is set in; Here's Job come to tell us a tale, We'll make him at home to a pin.

While my Wife and I bask o'er the fire, The roll of the Seasons will prove, That Time may diminish desire, But cannot extinguish true love.

O the pleasures of neighbourly chat, If you can but keep scandal away, To learn what the world has been at, And what the great Orators say; Though the Wind through the crevices sing, And Hail down the chimney rebound, I'm happier than many a king While the Bellows blow Ba.s.s to the sound.

Abundance was never my lot: But out of the trifle that's given, That no curse may alight on my Cot, I'll distribute the bounty of Heaven: The fool and the slave gather wealth; But if I add nought to my store, Yet while I keep conscience in health, I've a Mine that will never grow poor.