Poems By William Bell Scott. Ballads, Studies from Nature, Sonnets, etc. Illustrated by Seventeen Etchings by the Author and L. Alma Tadema |
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169
A RHYME OF THE SUN-DIAL.
The dial is dark, 'tis but half past-one:
But the crow is abroad, and the day's begun.
But the crow is abroad, and the day's begun.
The dial is dim, 'tis but half-past two:
Fit the small foot with its neat first shoe.
Fit the small foot with its neat first shoe.
The light gains fast, it is half-past three:
Now the blossom appears all over the tree.
Now the blossom appears all over the tree.
The gnomon tells it is but half-past four:
Shut upon him the old school-door.
Shut upon him the old school-door.
The sun is strong, it is half-past five:
Through this and through that let him hustle and strive.
Through this and through that let him hustle and strive.
Ha, thunder and rain! it is half-past six:
Hither and thither, go, wander and fix.
Hither and thither, go, wander and fix.
The shadows are sharp, it is half past-seven:
The Titan dares to scale even heaven!
The Titan dares to scale even heaven!
170
The rain soon dries, it is half-past eight:
Time faster flies, but it is not late!
Time faster flies, but it is not late!
The sky now is clear, it is half-past nine:
Draw all the threads and make them entwine.
Draw all the threads and make them entwine.
Clearer and calmer, 'tis half-past ten:
Count we the gains? not yet: try again.
Count we the gains? not yet: try again.
The shadows lengthen, half-past eleven:
He looks back, alas! let the man be shriven!
He looks back, alas! let the man be shriven!
The mist falls cold, it is half-past twelve:
Hark, the bell tolls! up, sexton, and delve!
Hark, the bell tolls! up, sexton, and delve!
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