 | The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley |  |
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CHRISTMAS SEASON
TO A FRIEND VISITING ENGLAND
This is a Christmas carol—
A late one, it is true,—
But (dight in Truth's apparel)
The best that we can do:—
The best our Muse belated
Thus offers, antedated,—
E'en as the old waits waited
We, waiting, sing for you.
A late one, it is true,—
But (dight in Truth's apparel)
The best that we can do:—
The best our Muse belated
Thus offers, antedated,—
E'en as the old waits waited
We, waiting, sing for you.
So, haply, you may listen,
As 'twere, with Fancy's ear,
And shape such songs of this-un
As were worth worlds to hear,—
Such anthemings ecstatic
As scaled The Mermaid's attic
In midnight's aromatic
Of choicest Christmas cheer:
As 'twere, with Fancy's ear,
And shape such songs of this-un
As were worth worlds to hear,—
Such anthemings ecstatic
As scaled The Mermaid's attic
In midnight's aromatic
Of choicest Christmas cheer:
Such songs as Marlowe lifted,
With throstle-throated Will
And rare Ben, as they shifted
Their laughing voices till
The mirth, with music blended,
So oversweet ascended,
It well were never ended—
And, hark!—you hear it still! ...
With throstle-throated Will
And rare Ben, as they shifted
Their laughing voices till
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So oversweet ascended,
It well were never ended—
And, hark!—you hear it still! ...
You hear it; aye, and love it!—
Beyond all voices dear—
Your master's!—none above it.—
So harken, and so hear!—
Your master's English.—Surely
No other rests so purely
On Fame, or more securely,—
O English of Shakespeare!
Beyond all voices dear—
Your master's!—none above it.—
So harken, and so hear!—
Your master's English.—Surely
No other rests so purely
On Fame, or more securely,—
O English of Shakespeare!
| The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley | |