Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature By Charles Mackay |
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IN THE GREENWOOD. |
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 | Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature |  |
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IN THE GREENWOOD.
'Tis merry, 'tis merry, in good greenwood,
The longest day of June,
And not a cloud in the bonnie blue sky
To cool the breeze of noon,
Or a sound to startle the turtle-dove,
Cooing her drowsy tune.
The longest day of June,
And not a cloud in the bonnie blue sky
To cool the breeze of noon,
Or a sound to startle the turtle-dove,
Cooing her drowsy tune.
'Tis merry, 'tis merry, through all the shire,
In the air so blithe and free—
'Tis merry in cottage, merry in hall,
Merry in croft and lea—
But merry, merry, merriest yet,
Under the greenwood tree.
In the air so blithe and free—
'Tis merry in cottage, merry in hall,
Merry in croft and lea—
But merry, merry, merriest yet,
Under the greenwood tree.
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Merry!—and yet the pike in the stream
Lurks low in the pools to slay;
And the starling chases the golden moth,
And the finch makes the worm his prey,
And the hawk hath a beak that is red with blood,
As he soars in the light of day.
Lurks low in the pools to slay;
And the starling chases the golden moth,
And the finch makes the worm his prey,
And the hawk hath a beak that is red with blood,
As he soars in the light of day.
Merry!—and yet in the gay greenwood,
There lies a lady fair,
With a gash in her throat that her lover hath made,
And the blood-clots in her hair.
Follow him, fiends, that shall rack his heart!
Lie down in his bed, Despair!
There lies a lady fair,
With a gash in her throat that her lover hath made,
And the blood-clots in her hair.
Follow him, fiends, that shall rack his heart!
Lie down in his bed, Despair!
Follow him, Darkness! follow him, Light!
Pillow, betray his head!
Grass of the greenwood, stones of the street,
Disclose his guilty tread!
Point at him, Earth! And thou, O Heaven!
Bear witness for the dead!
Pillow, betray his head!
Grass of the greenwood, stones of the street,
Disclose his guilty tread!
Point at him, Earth! And thou, O Heaven!
Bear witness for the dead!
| Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature | |