 | Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell |  |
VI.
“Oh, Merlin, Bard! whence comest thou in weeds so sad and torn—Where goest thou with naked feet, bare head, and face forlorn?
Oh whither, say, in this sad plight, old Merlin, dost thou go,
With oaken staff, and troubled brow, and eyes that overflow?”
“Seeking my harp in this sad world, my consolation sole,—
Seeking my harp, and eke my ring,—their loss has brought me dole.”
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Not lost are either harp or ring, they shall be thine again;
Come in, come in, poor Merlin, and take some meat with me.”
“No! no! I cannot cease my walk, nor eat nor drink with thee;
No food shall ever pass these lips till I my harp have found:
Till this is done, the world I pace in one long weary round.”
“Merlin, oh Merlin! heed me now, and thou thy harp shalt find.”
So sore she pressed him that at last she won upon his mind,
And then he comes into her house, and quietly sits down;
But still all woeful is his heart, and his tears they flow adown.
At evening comes the old dame's son, and finds old Merlin there;
He shakes with fear as he glances round, and sees the minstrel's chair.
The minstrel's head droops on his breast, sleep binds him in its chain,
The son he thinks he now can flee from his mother's house amain.
“Hush, hush, my child, fear not at all, Merlin is wrapt in sleep;
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Three ruddy apples, fair to see, I in the embers laid,
These roasted well, I gave to him; hush, son! be not afraid;
He ate the three, he'll follow thee wherever thou dost go,
Through forest dark, o'er mountain high, or in the valley low.”
| Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell | |