Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

University of Virginia Library

Songs and ballads

By Charles Swain

Swain, Charles (1801-1874)

collapse section

[Thou that flingest back the portal]

TRIPPING DOWN THE FIELD-PATH.

HOME AND FRIENDS.

THE LAST MEETING.

SMILE AND NEVER HEED ME.

THE THREE CALLERS.

BE KIND TO EACH OTHER.

I WAITED TILL THE TWILIGHT.

THE COTTAGE DOOR.

LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

THE OLD COTTAGE CLOCK.

ALADDIN'S LAMP.

IMAGINARY EVILS.

KEEP THE HEART LIGHT AS YOU CAN.

YESTERDAY AND TO-MORROW.

GIVE ME THE PEOPLE.

WHERE DWELLS THE FAIRY QUEEN?

PASSING THY DOOR.

SONG AND SUMMER.

HO! BREAKERS ON THE WEATHER BOW.

WHEN THE HEART IS YOUNG.

PROCRASTINATION.

THE HUSBAND'S SONG.

THE ORPHAN BOY.

OH! WHAT A WORLD IT MIGHT BE!

DO A GOOD TURN WHEN YOU CAN.

'T WAS ON A SUNDAY MORNING.

TO THE SEA-NYMPH.

THE SEA-NYMPH'S REPLY.

THERE'S AN HOUR.

THE UNATTAINABLE.

IN MY FAIRY GARDEN.

THE BUCCANEER'S SONG.

LOVE'S HISTORY.

A FOOT UPON THE STEP.

THE HUNTING MORN.

THE MEADOW GATE.

A WORD OF THINE.

THE OLD EVENINGS.

BETTER THAN BEAUTY.

FORGIVE AND FORGET.

A PALE, PALE CHEEK.

HATH THE WORLD.

THE LILIES OF THE FIELD.

THE NIGHT HATH GONE.

WHEN LIFE HATH SORROW FOUND.

LIGHT OF HEART.

BEAUTY IS DEAD.

NEVER RAIL AT THE WORLD.

THE WAYS OF HEAVEN.

'TWAS JUST BEFORE THE HAY WAS MOWN.

THE VOICE OF THE MORNING.

MIRTH.

GIVE ME A FRESHENING BREEZE.

THE COTTAGE WINDOW.

THE CHAMOIS HUNTERS.

THERE'S A CHARM.

DARKNESS UPON THE SEA.

VILLAGE COURTSHIP.

THE SHIPS OF ENGLAND.

I WILL NOT GIVE MY HEART AWAY.

THE BEAUTIFUL DAY.

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

78

MIRTH.

See the merry village train,
By the fields of golden grain,
Wreathed with flowers and ribands gay,
Speed the rush-cart on its way!
Dancing, sporting, leaping, singing,
Bells and glittering cymbals ringing;
Frolic, mirth, and laughter loud
Gather 'neath that Climber proud,
Up the pole to gain the crown.
Ha! ha! ha! he's down! he's down!
Ha! ha! ha! he's down! he's down!

Jocund thought and sportive jest
Cheer each aged rustic's breast;
Many an earlier feat is told—
Many a prank among the bold—
Former spirits—olden might—
When their hearts and heels were light!
See, ha! ha! the race of sacks—
Half the jumpers on their backs—
Three—now two—contest the crown.
Ha! ha! ha! they both are down!
Ha! ha! ha! they both are down!