 | Later Lyrics |  |
263
THE BABE'S LESSON.
I was saying “Avè, avè,”
Over a lost delight,
When Baby, scarce five moonlights old,
Looked up with wondering sight.
Then his untutored organ
Caught up the tragic tone,
And with my spent sigh blended soft
A music of its own.
Over a lost delight,
When Baby, scarce five moonlights old,
Looked up with wondering sight.
Then his untutored organ
Caught up the tragic tone,
And with my spent sigh blended soft
A music of its own.
I was weary of my burthen,
Desiring not to be;
When thus unto my thoughts discoursed
The babe upon my knee:
“Why, mother, sighing ever?
What boots thy cherished woe?
What matter through the mighty sea
If sweet or bitter flow?
Desiring not to be;
When thus unto my thoughts discoursed
The babe upon my knee:
“Why, mother, sighing ever?
What boots thy cherished woe?
What matter through the mighty sea
If sweet or bitter flow?
264
Behold thy gallant champion,
New lighted from the skies!
Strong arm and word, and heart of cheer,
Are in him, blossom-wise.
A man, and he who wrongs me
Escapes his lesson not;
But who should grieve my mother's heart
Must dearly pay the scot.
New lighted from the skies!
Strong arm and word, and heart of cheer,
Are in him, blossom-wise.
A man, and he who wrongs me
Escapes his lesson not;
But who should grieve my mother's heart
Must dearly pay the scot.
Then wait, thou silly mother,
The days till I am grown:
Thou knowest a many heart like thine
Doth keep its watch alone.
Set up Prayer's golden ladder
That brings the heaven-sent joy;
And with sweet hope and patient faith
Nourish thy tender boy.”
The days till I am grown:
Thou knowest a many heart like thine
Doth keep its watch alone.
Set up Prayer's golden ladder
That brings the heaven-sent joy;
And with sweet hope and patient faith
Nourish thy tender boy.”
“I will, I will, my dearest,
Else 'twere unblest to live;
The heaven is wide above our head,
And God is free to give.
But I was not weeping, baby,
Nor raising a hand of might;
I was only saying Avè
Over a lost delight.”
Else 'twere unblest to live;
The heaven is wide above our head,
And God is free to give.
265
Nor raising a hand of might;
I was only saying Avè
Over a lost delight.”
| Later Lyrics | |