 | The Solitary, and other poems |  |
The aged crone hath heard her master,
And, fearful of some wild disaster,
Calls Kirke, and hastens down the stair;
Old Jasper on his knees in prayer!
With white eyes and disorder'd hair!
“Lady of heaven!” with this, she cries
Loudly on Kirke, stamps with her feet,
Adjures her master to arise,
And strives to hale him to a seat.
Now Kirke is come, and with joint strength,
They lift him to his feet at length,
And thrust him in a chair:—“Go thou,”
Quoth Kirke, “fetch water for his brow;
I'll wring him by the nose, and strike
Upon his hands the while.”
And, fearful of some wild disaster,
Calls Kirke, and hastens down the stair;
Old Jasper on his knees in prayer!
With white eyes and disorder'd hair!
“Lady of heaven!” with this, she cries
Loudly on Kirke, stamps with her feet,
Adjures her master to arise,
And strives to hale him to a seat.
Now Kirke is come, and with joint strength,
They lift him to his feet at length,
And thrust him in a chair:—“Go thou,”
Quoth Kirke, “fetch water for his brow;
I'll wring him by the nose, and strike
138
“Belike
'Tis his death swoon,” says the old crone.
“I would it were,” quoth Kirke—“begone.”
“O thou vile wretch! is this thy plight,
Is this thy change since yesternight?
Thou hast been curs'd, as well as I.”
But Jasper's eyes unclose; a sigh
Comes forth, and stays Kirke's angry speech,
And each a moment stares on each.
“Kirke, is it thou, even as it seems;
Is 't thou, indeed? Hast thou had dreams?”
'Tis his death swoon,” says the old crone.
“I would it were,” quoth Kirke—“begone.”
“O thou vile wretch! is this thy plight,
Is this thy change since yesternight?
Thou hast been curs'd, as well as I.”
But Jasper's eyes unclose; a sigh
Comes forth, and stays Kirke's angry speech,
And each a moment stares on each.
“Kirke, is it thou, even as it seems;
Is 't thou, indeed? Hast thou had dreams?”
| The Solitary, and other poems | |