Ochil Idylls and Other Poems by Hugh Haliburton [i.e. J. L. Robertson] |
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DAVE (sc. Daphnis). |
 | Ochil Idylls and Other Poems |  |
145
DAVE (sc. Daphnis).
Ton Mosais philon andra, ton ou Numphaisin apechthe.
With the smell of the meads in his plaiden dress,
He comes from the broomy wilderness.
He comes from the broomy wilderness.
The dewdrop burns in his bushy hair,
His forehead shines, and is free from care.
His forehead shines, and is free from care.
He looks round-orb'd thro' the blue of his eyes,
With the fearless fulness of summer skies.
With the fearless fulness of summer skies.
The red that breaks on the brown of his cheek,
Is the russet apple's ripen'd streak.
Is the russet apple's ripen'd streak.
White as the milk of nuts are his teeth,
And crisp and black is his beard beneath.
And crisp and black is his beard beneath.
What can he show to the strife of towns?
A vision of peace on the distant downs.
A vision of peace on the distant downs.
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Green hollows and hillocks, and skies of blue,
And white sheep feeding the long day thro'.
And white sheep feeding the long day thro'.
The apples are ruddy, the nuts are ripe,
By every pool there grows a pipe.
By every pool there grows a pipe.
How can he touch the world's dull'd ear?
What can he play that the world will hear?
What can he play that the world will hear?
His pipe is slender, and softly blown,
The music sinks ever in undertone.
The music sinks ever in undertone.
Yet sweet to hear of an autumn night,
When the sheaves on the shorn rigs glimmer white,
When the sheaves on the shorn rigs glimmer white,
It sounds in the dusk like the joy of a star,
When the lattice of heaven is left ajar,
When the lattice of heaven is left ajar,
To clasping lovers that thread the threaves
Like a shadow moving among the sheaves.
Like a shadow moving among the sheaves.
| Ochil Idylls and Other Poems | |