The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay With Illustrations by John Gilbert |
 |
WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
13
WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW.
I
When, and Where, and How,Rule our fate between them,
Fortunate is he
Who has grasp'd and seen them.
Fairies, kind and bright,
Men and Nature love them;
Earth and Time are theirs,
And the sky above them.
II
Fame, and Wealth, and PowerAnswer to their hollo!
Catch them if you can,
And the world shall follow!
What his heart desires
To the utmost tether,
Are his lot who finds
All the three together.
III
But, alas, the day!For the hopes they've blighted;—
Vain are all their gifts
If they're disunited.
Where may show the place;
When invite you to it;
But if How's away,
How are you to do it?
14
IV
How may take your handAnd inspire your spirit,
But if When refuse,
What's the good of merit?
When may dawn in smiles,
But if Where's unsteady,
What avails the time,
Or the hand that's ready?
V
Singly oft they come,Cheating Life's endeavour;—
Oh, the fairy Sprites,
Dodging us for ever!
One, and two I've found,
Willing when I bade them;
But the third, alas!
Never came to aid them!
VI
Let them cross my pathOnly for a minute,
And whate'er my chase,
Trust me, I shall win it!
All my heart's desire,
To the utmost tether,
Shall be mine the day
When they come together!
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |