 | Passion-Flowers |  |
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THE MILL-STREAM.
A Miller wanted a mill-stream,
A mild, efficient brook,
To help him to his living, in
Some snug and shady nook.
A mild, efficient brook,
To help him to his living, in
Some snug and shady nook.
But our Miller had a brilliant taste,
A love of flash and spray;
And so, the stream that charmed him most
Was that of brightest play.
A love of flash and spray;
And so, the stream that charmed him most
Was that of brightest play.
It wore a quiet look, at times,
And steady seemed, and still;
But when its quicker depths were stirred,
Wow! but it wrought its will.
And steady seemed, and still;
But when its quicker depths were stirred,
Wow! but it wrought its will.
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And men had tried to bridle it
By artifice and force;
But madness from its rising grew,
And all along its course.
By artifice and force;
But madness from its rising grew,
And all along its course.
'Twas on a sultry summer's day,
The Miller chanced to stop
Where it invited to ‘look in
And take a friendly drop.’
The Miller chanced to stop
Where it invited to ‘look in
And take a friendly drop.’
Coiffed with long wreaths of crimson weed,
Veiled by a passing cloud,
It looked a novice of the woods
That dares not speak aloud.
Veiled by a passing cloud,
It looked a novice of the woods
That dares not speak aloud.
Said he: ‘I never met a stream
More beautiful and bland,
'Twill gain my bread, and bless it too,
So here my mill shall stand.’
More beautiful and bland,
'Twill gain my bread, and bless it too,
So here my mill shall stand.’
And ere the summer's glow had passed,
Or crimson flowers did fade,
The Miller measured out his ground,
And his foundation laid.
Or crimson flowers did fade,
The Miller measured out his ground,
And his foundation laid.
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The Miller toiled with might and main,
Builded with thought and care;
And when the Spring broke up the ice,
The water-wheel stood there.
Builded with thought and care;
And when the Spring broke up the ice,
The water-wheel stood there.
Like a frolic maiden come from school,
The stream looked out anew;
And the happy Miller bowing, said,
‘Now turn my mill-wheel, do!’
The stream looked out anew;
And the happy Miller bowing, said,
‘Now turn my mill-wheel, do!’
‘Your mill-wheel?’ cried the naughty Nymph,
‘That would, indeed, be fine!
You have your business, I suppose;
Learn, too, that I have mine.’
‘That would, indeed, be fine!
You have your business, I suppose;
Learn, too, that I have mine.’
‘What better business can you have
Than turn this wheel for me?’
Leaping and laughing, the wild thing cried,
‘Follow, and you may see.’
Than turn this wheel for me?’
Leaping and laughing, the wild thing cried,
‘Follow, and you may see.’
The Miller trudged with measured pace,
As Reason follows Rhyme,
And saw his mill-stream run to waste
In the very teeth of time.
As Reason follows Rhyme,
And saw his mill-stream run to waste
In the very teeth of time.
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‘'Fore heaven!’ he swore, ‘since thou'rt perverse,
I've hit upon a plan;
A dam shall stay thine outward course,
And then, break out who can.’
I've hit upon a plan;
A dam shall stay thine outward course,
And then, break out who can.’
So he built a dam of wood and stone,
Not sparing in the cost,
‘For,’ thought our friend, ‘this water-power
Must not be lightly lost.’
Not sparing in the cost,
‘For,’ thought our friend, ‘this water-power
Must not be lightly lost.’
‘What! will you force me?’ said the sprite;
‘You shall not find it gain;’
So, with a flash, a dash, a crash,
She made her way amain.
‘You shall not find it gain;’
So, with a flash, a dash, a crash,
She made her way amain.
Then, freeing all her pent-up soul,
She rushed in frantic race,
And fragments of the Miller's work
Threw in the Miller's face.
She rushed in frantic race,
And fragments of the Miller's work
Threw in the Miller's face.
The good man built his dam again,
More stoutly than before;
He flung no challenge to the foe,
But an oath he inly swore:
More stoutly than before;
He flung no challenge to the foe,
But an oath he inly swore:
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‘Thou seest resistance is in vain,
So yield with better grace.’
And the water sluices turned the stream
To its appointed place.
So yield with better grace.’
And the water sluices turned the stream
To its appointed place.
‘Aha! I've conquered now!’ quoth he,
For the water-fury bold
Was still an instant, ere she rose
In wrath and power fourfold.
For the water-fury bold
Was still an instant, ere she rose
In wrath and power fourfold.
With roar, and rush, and massive sweep
She cleared the shameful bound,
And flung to utterness of waste
The Miller and his mound.
She cleared the shameful bound,
And flung to utterness of waste
The Miller and his mound.
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