Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs By Walter Thornbury. Illustrated by J. Whistler, F. Walker, John Tenniel, J. D. Watson, W. Small, F. Sandys, G. J. Pinwell, T. Morten, M. J. Lawless, and many others |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
Friend Robin.
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
 | Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs |  |
181
Friend Robin.
Little Robin, Wild Bird,
Singing sweet and blythe;
Careless of Time's hour-glass
And his crooked scythe.
Prodigal of pleasure
In a harmless way,
Greeting in the sunshine
This thy holiday.
Singing sweet and blythe;
Careless of Time's hour-glass
And his crooked scythe.
Prodigal of pleasure
In a harmless way,
Greeting in the sunshine
This thy holiday.
When the orphan children
Wandered in the wood,
We shall still remember
Thou wert kind and good.
As their cheeks grew paler,
And with tears were wet,
Thou didst sprinkle o'er them
Many a violet.
Wandered in the wood,
We shall still remember
Thou wert kind and good.
As their cheeks grew paler,
And with tears were wet,
Thou didst sprinkle o'er them
Many a violet.
Friendly bird and kindly,
In the chilly eaves
Thou didst strew their corses
With the mouldering leaves
Well the ancient poet,
Greatly loving thee,
Said thou wert the emblem
Of sweet Charity.
In the chilly eaves
Thou didst strew their corses
With the mouldering leaves
Well the ancient poet,
Greatly loving thee,
Said thou wert the emblem
Of sweet Charity.
While the scarlet poppies
Burn among the corn,
While the thrushes carol
To the blue-eyed morn,
Thou art hushed and silent:
But when Summer's reign
Ends, and leaves are falling,
Thou art gay again.
Burn among the corn,
While the thrushes carol
To the blue-eyed morn,
Thou art hushed and silent:
But when Summer's reign
Ends, and leaves are falling,
Thou art gay again.
Cheer us in the Autumn,
When the rains begin,
While the gay flowers wither,
And the woods grow thin.
Now that, half regretful,
Red leaves drift along,
Like an old friend's greeting,
Comes thy little song.
When the rains begin,
While the gay flowers wither,
And the woods grow thin.
Now that, half regretful,
Red leaves drift along,
Like an old friend's greeting,
Comes thy little song.
Little Robin, Wild Bird,
Gold tints every leaf,
Sharp the frost comes nipping,
And we've piled the sheaf.
Now the flails are sounding
On the threshing-floor,
Let me sit and hear thee
Singing by my door.
Gold tints every leaf,
Sharp the frost comes nipping,
And we've piled the sheaf.
Now the flails are sounding
On the threshing-floor,
Let me sit and hear thee
Singing by my door.
Friends we have in plenty
In the Summer-time,
But the swallow leaves us
Ere the rain and rime.
Thou alone art faithful
In the mist and cold,
Pleasant Winter carols
Singing as of old.
In the Summer-time,
But the swallow leaves us
Ere the rain and rime.
Thou alone art faithful
In the mist and cold,
Pleasant Winter carols
Singing as of old.
| Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs | |