 | Rhapsodies |  |
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LITTLE JANE;
OR, THE GIRL OF FEELING.
In Chester city liv'd a man,
And he had children twain;
His little son was christen'd Ben,
His daughter's name was Jane.
And he had children twain;
His little son was christen'd Ben,
His daughter's name was Jane.
And little Ben his sister lov'd,
He lov'd her passing well;
But how she lov'd her brother Ben
My ballad soon shall tell.
He lov'd her passing well;
But how she lov'd her brother Ben
My ballad soon shall tell.
These twain would often laugh and sing,
And often romp and play;
And oft to greenwood shade they went,
To hear the songsters gay.
And often romp and play;
And oft to greenwood shade they went,
To hear the songsters gay.
At early dawn, when convent bells
The friars call'd to pray'r,
Beside the holy virgin's shrine
Was seen this pretty pair.
The friars call'd to pray'r,
Beside the holy virgin's shrine
Was seen this pretty pair.
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But never then would Jane or Ben
One moment think of play;
She counted o'er her pretty beads,
His pater he would say.
One moment think of play;
She counted o'er her pretty beads,
His pater he would say.
And when at eve the convent bells
For vespers went ding dong,
Still prostrate on the altar's step
They join'd the holy song.
For vespers went ding dong,
Still prostrate on the altar's step
They join'd the holy song.
But then they neither smil'd, nor thought
Of running forth to play;
Their souls were fix'd upon the chaunt,
And after they were gay.
Of running forth to play;
Their souls were fix'd upon the chaunt,
And after they were gay.
And when then evening's dusky hue
Slow faded from the sight;
And when the silv'ry crested moon
Shot through the cloak of night;
Slow faded from the sight;
And when the silv'ry crested moon
Shot through the cloak of night;
Then, hand in hand, hied Ben and Jane;
Their guileless hearts were bless'd;
And then they kiss'd their parents dear,
And after went to rest.
Their guileless hearts were bless'd;
And then they kiss'd their parents dear,
And after went to rest.
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Around each other's necks they twin'd
Their arms so lily white;
To see them smile, as thus they slept—
It was a comely sight:
Their arms so lily white;
To see them smile, as thus they slept—
It was a comely sight:
Their dimpled cheeks, so rosy red,
Spoke health and peace within:
Oh! did we all but look like them,
The world could know no sin.
Spoke health and peace within:
Oh! did we all but look like them,
The world could know no sin.
And thus they liv'd, this little pair,
And towns-folk us'd to cry,
Two cherubs sure these children are,
Belov'd of the Most High.
And towns-folk us'd to cry,
Two cherubs sure these children are,
Belov'd of the Most High.
These babies they are cherubs twain,
The like we ne'er did see;
So gentle, and so good in pray'r
To the bless'd Deity.
The like we ne'er did see;
So gentle, and so good in pray'r
To the bless'd Deity.
It happened so that little Ben
Turn'd wan, and very pale;
He could not sleep, nor eat, nor drink,
For something he did ail.
Turn'd wan, and very pale;
He could not sleep, nor eat, nor drink,
For something he did ail.
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And then he turn'd both pale and wan;
He was but skin and bone;
And sometimes he was burning hot,
Then cold as any stone.
He was but skin and bone;
And sometimes he was burning hot,
Then cold as any stone.
Yet though he was so passing sick,
He never would complain;
For well he knew 'twould break the heart
Of his lov'd sister Jane.
He never would complain;
For well he knew 'twould break the heart
Of his lov'd sister Jane.
So all that little Ben would say,
And constant was his cry,
“Ah! be not sad, my sister dear!
“I know I shall not die:
And constant was his cry,
“Ah! be not sad, my sister dear!
“I know I shall not die:
“For soon will Jesu pity me,
“And then we shall be gay;
“Again to greenwood shade we'll walk,
“And run, and jump, and play.”
“And then we shall be gay;
“Again to greenwood shade we'll walk,
“And run, and jump, and play.”
But never more was little Ben
With his lov'd sister gay;
Nor did he ever run and jump,
Nor through the green wood stray.
With his lov'd sister gay;
Nor did he ever run and jump,
Nor through the green wood stray.
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For cold he turn'd, and damp, and stiff,
While fainter grew his breath;
On Jane his sweet blue eyes were fix'd;
On Jane he call'd in death:
While fainter grew his breath;
On Jane his sweet blue eyes were fix'd;
On Jane he call'd in death:
His limbs ne'er writh'd, but still he lay,
Nor utter'd one sad groan;
One gentle sigh proclaim'd him dead,—
His soul to heaven was flown.
Nor utter'd one sad groan;
One gentle sigh proclaim'd him dead,—
His soul to heaven was flown.
And soon beneath the damp cold sod,
Under the yew tree's shade,
The livid corse of little Ben
By holy monks was laid.
Under the yew tree's shade,
The livid corse of little Ben
By holy monks was laid.
Then Jane turn'd sad—nay very sad—
And Jane would piteous moan;
She could not sleep, nor eat, nor drink,
Now she was left alone.
And Jane would piteous moan;
She could not sleep, nor eat, nor drink,
Now she was left alone.
Nor ever would she laugh and play,
Or to the green wood hie;
Her former pastimes were forgot;
Her pleasure was to sigh.
Or to the green wood hie;
Her former pastimes were forgot;
Her pleasure was to sigh.
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Se every eve from home she went,
And sought the yew tree's shade;
And then upon the cold damp turf
Her pretty form was laid.
And sought the yew tree's shade;
And then upon the cold damp turf
Her pretty form was laid.
And then she'd call on little Ben,
And bitter tears would weep;
And then she'd say, “O! would that I
“Were laid in pit as deep.”
And bitter tears would weep;
And then she'd say, “O! would that I
“Were laid in pit as deep.”
And then her little arms would press
The cold, unconscious sod;
And then she'd call on brother Ben,
And then would pray to God.
The cold, unconscious sod;
And then she'd call on brother Ben,
And then would pray to God.
So Jane still turn'd more sick at heart;
More pallid was her skin;
More sunk and lustre-less her eye;
Her form more deadly thin.
More pallid was her skin;
More sunk and lustre-less her eye;
Her form more deadly thin.
And thus some twenty days pass'd o'er
Since brother Ben had died;
To soothe this grief her parents twain
By every effort tried:
Since brother Ben had died;
To soothe this grief her parents twain
By every effort tried:
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But nought avail'd their tender care;
Their hearts were griev'd full sore;
And now 'gan they with anguish think
She soon would be no more.
Their hearts were griev'd full sore;
And now 'gan they with anguish think
She soon would be no more.
And so it happ'd; for one sad eve
Jane sought her much-lov'd yew;
Her hand a sprig of cypress bore,
Her hair was deck'd with rue:
Jane sought her much-lov'd yew;
Her hand a sprig of cypress bore,
Her hair was deck'd with rue:
Then down she sat, but nought could say—
A tear stood in her eye;
She plac'd the left hand on her heart,
And heav'd a piteous sigh.
A tear stood in her eye;
She plac'd the left hand on her heart,
And heav'd a piteous sigh.
It was a sigh, so heavy, sad,
Such agony bespoke;
It was a sigh, which plainly prov'd
The suff'rer's heart was broke.
Such agony bespoke;
It was a sigh, which plainly prov'd
The suff'rer's heart was broke.
And then her eyes grew fix'd and dim;
Her pulse beat very slow;
More languid throbb'd her aching heart,
And chill her blood 'gan flow.
Her pulse beat very slow;
More languid throbb'd her aching heart,
And chill her blood 'gan flow.
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“Oh! Ben,” she cried, “my brother dear!”
And then she paus'd for breath—
“If living I have lov'd thee well,
“I love thee more in death:
And then she paus'd for breath—
“If living I have lov'd thee well,
“I love thee more in death:
“For soon I trust the Lord will bear
“My soul to yonder sky;
“Where Ben and I may live for aye,
“Since angels never die.”
“My soul to yonder sky;
“Where Ben and I may live for aye,
“Since angels never die.”
And then her pretty blue eyes clos'd;
Her pulse still fainter beat;
And then her thick and icy blood
'Gan to her heart retreat:
Her pulse still fainter beat;
And then her thick and icy blood
'Gan to her heart retreat:
And then she sunk upon the turf,
Ah! who would not deplore?
She dropp'd upon her brother's grave,
From thence to rise no more.
Ah! who would not deplore?
She dropp'd upon her brother's grave,
From thence to rise no more.
And soon the parents sought their child;
They sought her by moon light;
And frantic they ran far and wide,
Till it was drear midnight.
They sought her by moon light;
And frantic they ran far and wide,
Till it was drear midnight.
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When lo! they gain'd the convent walls,
And to the church-yard went,
And there they found the clay-cold child,
Their little innocent.
And to the church-yard went,
And there they found the clay-cold child,
Their little innocent.
The monks beside her brother laid
The corse of little Jane;
And though the towns-folk wept full sore,
Yet she was eas'd from pain.
The corse of little Jane;
And though the towns-folk wept full sore,
Yet she was eas'd from pain.
And though keen anguish rung the hearts
Of her two parents dear,
Yet these sweet babes in heaven did dry
The agonizing tear.
Of her two parents dear,
Yet these sweet babes in heaven did dry
The agonizing tear.
And thus Jane died for tender love
Which she to Ben did bear:
May we for tenderness of soul
Such bliss for ever share!
Which she to Ben did bear:
May we for tenderness of soul
Such bliss for ever share!
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