 | The Burden of the Bell and Other Lyrics |  |
91
THE STRIFE, AND THE REPOSE.
Lo, a peasant-child lay sleeping,
Dream-bound in the sun,
Changes into life were leaping
Round him, many a one.
Dream-bound in the sun,
Changes into life were leaping
Round him, many a one.
There were sounds of village wassail,
Borne upon the breeze;
Armëd bands of lord and vassal
Swept beneath the trees.
Borne upon the breeze;
Armëd bands of lord and vassal
Swept beneath the trees.
There were groans of ire and anguish,
Outraged homes among;
Vows of vengeance ne'er to languish,
Through closed chambers rung.
Outraged homes among;
Vows of vengeance ne'er to languish,
Through closed chambers rung.
Then came roar and strife of battle,
Clash of sword and spear,
Rallying-shout and cannon's rattle,
Death-cries, dread to hear.
Clash of sword and spear,
Rallying-shout and cannon's rattle,
Death-cries, dread to hear.
92
Women's eyes were red with weeping—
Freedom's race was run,
While that peasant-child lay sleeping,
Dream-bound in the sun.
Freedom's race was run,
While that peasant-child lay sleeping,
Dream-bound in the sun.
And that day a king descended
From his place of pride,
Straight from throne to dungeon wended,
And to doom beside.
From his place of pride,
Straight from throne to dungeon wended,
And to doom beside.
While a tyrant smote the nation
With an evil hand;
Rapine, fire, and desolation,
Raged at his command.
With an evil hand;
Rapine, fire, and desolation,
Raged at his command.
Goodly towns were ta'en and plundered,
Stately halls laid low;
Loving hearts for ever sundered,
Beauty quenched in woe.
Stately halls laid low;
Loving hearts for ever sundered,
Beauty quenched in woe.
Morning dawned in smiles and hearkened
To glad sounds alone;
Evening found the glory darkened,
And the gladness gone.
To glad sounds alone;
Evening found the glory darkened,
And the gladness gone.
93
So was wassail changed for weeping
Empire lost and won,
While that peasant-child lay sleeping,
Dream-bound in the sun.
Empire lost and won,
While that peasant-child lay sleeping,
Dream-bound in the sun.
| The Burden of the Bell and Other Lyrics | |