 | The poems of Richard Henry Stoddard |  |
[I hear the sacred swan]
(“Shi King.”)
I hear the sacred swan,
In its river island sing;
I see the modest maiden,
A consort for a king.
In its river island sing;
I see the modest maiden,
A consort for a king.
The tendrils of the Hang
Are green and white below,
Along the running waters
Swaying to and fro.
Are green and white below,
Along the running waters
Swaying to and fro.
The king has sought the maid,
His passion is so strong:
And day and night he murmurs,
“How long, alas, how long!”
His passion is so strong:
And day and night he murmurs,
“How long, alas, how long!”
He turns him on his bed,
He tosses in his woe;
His thoughts are like the Hang plants,
Swaying to and fro.
He tosses in his woe;
His thoughts are like the Hang plants,
Swaying to and fro.
Again I hear the swan,
In a palace garden sing;
Again I see the maiden,
The consort of the king.
In a palace garden sing;
Again I see the maiden,
The consort of the king.
234
The king is happy now,
For see, the maiden comes,
And hark, the bells are ringing,
And hark, the noise of drums!
For see, the maiden comes,
And hark, the bells are ringing,
And hark, the noise of drums!
| The poems of Richard Henry Stoddard | |