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In Cornwall and Across the Sea

With Poems Written in Devonshire. By Douglas B. W. Sladen

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205

A BALLAD OF PAIN.

The “Ballad of Pleasure” was finished at 1 a.m. on feb. 1st 1885: at 9 a.m. “Bob” was found dead in his Cradle.
My heart was overfull with joy,
As late I sat one winternight,
Exulting that my two-months' boy
Should now receive the chrystom rite;
But, when the morrow morn was light,
My heart was overfull with pain,
For there I found him stiff and white,
The babe who never moved again.

206

My heart was overfull with joy,
As late I sat one winternight,
Exulting o'er a two-days' toy,
A ballad ready now to write;
But, ere the sun had climbed his height,
My song was in another strain,
For there I found him stiff and white,
The babe who never moved again.
My heart was overfull with joy,
As late I sat one winternight,
Two hours of gold without alloy
To pass with maidens boon and bright;
At morn I saw another sight
Than maidens fair and maidens fain,
For there I found him stiff and white,
The babe who never moved again.

207

Envoy.

Many a sight of joy and light
May I forget, but not the pain
With which I found him stiff and white.
The babe who never moved again.