Life and Phantasy by William Allingham: With frontispiece by Sir John E. Millais: A design by Arthur H. Hughes and a song for voice and piano forte |
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 | Life and Phantasy |  |
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THE LION AND THE WAVE.
A haughty Lion, from his burning sand
And palmtree-shaded wells, found ocean-strand,
And glared upon the limitless blue plain.
A huge Wave rose, rush'd on with flying mane,
Plunged at him, crashing down with furious roar:
Whereat, with broken growl of terror and wrath
He bounded back, and fled; the milky froth
Filling his footprints on the lone sea-shore.
And palmtree-shaded wells, found ocean-strand,
And glared upon the limitless blue plain.
A huge Wave rose, rush'd on with flying mane,
Plunged at him, crashing down with furious roar:
Whereat, with broken growl of terror and wrath
He bounded back, and fled; the milky froth
Filling his footprints on the lone sea-shore.
No peer in his wild kingdom did he brook,
All living creatures quail'd beneath his look,
And at his thunderous voice the desert shook:
But now his heart knew fear; the matchless pride
And courage wither'd; Serpent, Elephant,
Gorilla, Crocodile, had power to daunt.
Restless he roamed and dwindled, and the Wave
Disturb'd his dreams. At last into his cave
This Lion cowering crept, lay down, and died.
All living creatures quail'd beneath his look,
And at his thunderous voice the desert shook:
But now his heart knew fear; the matchless pride
And courage wither'd; Serpent, Elephant,
Gorilla, Crocodile, had power to daunt.
Restless he roamed and dwindled, and the Wave
Disturb'd his dreams. At last into his cave
This Lion cowering crept, lay down, and died.
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