Conversations introducing poetry chiefly on subjects of natural history. For the use of children and young persons. By Charlotte Smith |
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THE DORMOUSE JUST TAKEN. |
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 | Conversations introducing poetry |  |
75
THE DORMOUSE JUST TAKEN.
Sleep on, sleep on, poor captive mouse,
Oh sleep! unconscious of the fate
That ruthless spoil'd thy cosey house,
And tore thee from thy mate.
Oh sleep! unconscious of the fate
That ruthless spoil'd thy cosey house,
And tore thee from thy mate.
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What barbarous hand could thus molest
A little innocent like thee,
And drag thee from thy mossy nest
To sad captivity?
A little innocent like thee,
And drag thee from thy mossy nest
To sad captivity?
Ah! when suspended life again
Thy torpid senses shall recall,
Poor guiltless prisoner! what pain
Thy bosom shall appal.
Thy torpid senses shall recall,
Poor guiltless prisoner! what pain
Thy bosom shall appal.
When starting up in wild affright,
Thy bright round eyes shall vainly seek
Thy tiny spouse, with breast so white,
Thy whisker'd brethren sleek;
Thy bright round eyes shall vainly seek
Thy tiny spouse, with breast so white,
Thy whisker'd brethren sleek;
Thy snug warm nest with feathers lined,
Thy winter store of roots and corn;
Nor nuts nor beech-mast shalt thou find,
The toil of many a morn.
Thy winter store of roots and corn;
Nor nuts nor beech-mast shalt thou find,
The toil of many a morn.
Thy soft white feet around thy cage
Will cling; while thou in hopeless pain
Wilt waste thy little life in rage,
To find thy struggles vain!
Will cling; while thou in hopeless pain
Wilt waste thy little life in rage,
To find thy struggles vain!
Yet since thou'rt fall'n in gentle hands,
Oh! captive mouse, allay thy grief,
For light shall be thy silken bands,
And time afford relief.
Oh! captive mouse, allay thy grief,
For light shall be thy silken bands,
And time afford relief.
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Warm is the lodging, soft the bed,
Thy little mistress will prepare;
By her kind hands thou shalt be fed,
And dainties be thy fare.
Thy little mistress will prepare;
By her kind hands thou shalt be fed,
And dainties be thy fare.
But neither men nor mice forget
Their native home, where'er they be,
And fondly thou wilt still regret
Thy wild woods, loves, and liberty!
Their native home, where'er they be,
And fondly thou wilt still regret
Thy wild woods, loves, and liberty!
| Conversations introducing poetry | |