Ernest The Rule of Right. Second Edition [by Capel Lofft] |
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Laughter and screams
Confounded each with each—the sudden shriek
Belied as suddenly in mirth, and shouts
And frolic fun: as tho' the merry sprite
Had taken them for playmates of his own,
And flashed upon them on his bright-hued swift
Rainbow—such glittering gladness was shed through
Their souls. So they sped down, here scrambling, there
Sliding the easier slopes—at the hubbub wild
Hushed was the stone-chat, as by hawk o'erhead;
The lark shrank low, and trusted not the air
Frenzied so strangely. The old shepherd-dog
Astart, sprang from his lair, pricked his wild ears,
And watched with muzzle keen and keener eye,
Low growling at the throng—what may it mean—
Some fearful stir, or idle foolery,
A noise or an alarm? There stood the flock
Thick huddled, broad black heads gazing aloof—
Weighing each fit of folly and merriment—
In their sage scales of doubt.
Confounded each with each—the sudden shriek
Belied as suddenly in mirth, and shouts
And frolic fun: as tho' the merry sprite
Had taken them for playmates of his own,
And flashed upon them on his bright-hued swift
Rainbow—such glittering gladness was shed through
Their souls. So they sped down, here scrambling, there
Sliding the easier slopes—at the hubbub wild
Hushed was the stone-chat, as by hawk o'erhead;
The lark shrank low, and trusted not the air
Frenzied so strangely. The old shepherd-dog
Astart, sprang from his lair, pricked his wild ears,
And watched with muzzle keen and keener eye,
Low growling at the throng—what may it mean—
Some fearful stir, or idle foolery,
A noise or an alarm? There stood the flock
Thick huddled, broad black heads gazing aloof—
Weighing each fit of folly and merriment—
In their sage scales of doubt.
| Ernest | |