Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs By Walter Thornbury. Illustrated by J. Whistler, F. Walker, John Tenniel, J. D. Watson, W. Small, F. Sandys, G. J. Pinwell, T. Morten, M. J. Lawless, and many others |
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The Parting of the Swallow.
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 | Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs |  |
The Parting of the Swallow.
Bird of Summer, bird of Summer,
Now the wheaten sheaves are piling,
And the red October sunlight
Still though through a mist is smiling.
Why forsake our common shelter,
Bird with wing so soft and sable,
Why desert these clustering chimneys,
Or this overhanging gable?
Now the wheaten sheaves are piling,
And the red October sunlight
Still though through a mist is smiling.
Why forsake our common shelter,
Bird with wing so soft and sable,
Why desert these clustering chimneys,
Or this overhanging gable?
Bird of Summer, bird of Summer,
The broad sky is blue and sunny;
Still from flowers, although they're fading,
Hasty wild bees gather honey.
Why, then, cease thy restless flashing
Through the leaves hung few and golden,
While the gnats still lead their dances,
And the sheep are not yet folden?
The broad sky is blue and sunny;
Still from flowers, although they're fading,
Hasty wild bees gather honey.
Why, then, cease thy restless flashing
Through the leaves hung few and golden,
While the gnats still lead their dances,
And the sheep are not yet folden?
Bird of Summer, bird of Summer,
In the cobwebs dew-drops quiver,
Bright as velvet shot with silver,
And the broad leaves of the chestnut
Fall off with a chilly shiver.
The slow death-damp's dripping, dripping,
Like big tears upon a coffin;
All the while the ruthless tempest
Like a brutal sexton's scoffing.
In the cobwebs dew-drops quiver,
Bright as velvet shot with silver,
And the broad leaves of the chestnut
Fall off with a chilly shiver.
The slow death-damp's dripping, dripping,
Like big tears upon a coffin;
All the while the ruthless tempest
Like a brutal sexton's scoffing.
Bird of Summer, bird of Summer,
The cold dews freeze bright and glitter,
Where, round plumy wayside thistle,
Starving sparrows crowd and twitter.
New-dug graves the wind is filling
With the leaves so newly fallen,
And they blow into the cradle
Where the child the mother's calling.
The cold dews freeze bright and glitter,
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Starving sparrows crowd and twitter.
New-dug graves the wind is filling
With the leaves so newly fallen,
And they blow into the cradle
Where the child the mother's calling.
Bird of Summer, bird of Summer,
'Mid the bare boughs of the orchard
Hangs the apple ripe and mellow;
By it sings the robin watching,
As it sways so red and yellow.
And the bird the treasure's guarding
From the prying boy below;
But his song points out the plunder
To the keen eye of the foe.
'Mid the bare boughs of the orchard
Hangs the apple ripe and mellow;
By it sings the robin watching,
As it sways so red and yellow.
And the bird the treasure's guarding
From the prying boy below;
But his song points out the plunder
To the keen eye of the foe.
Bird of Summer, bird of Summer,
Now the worn plough's red and rusting
Underneath the dripping thatches;
In the barn the flail is pounding,
Louder as men lift the latches;
And the beech is red and mouldering,
While the oak-leaf's brown and searing,
Through the elm spread golden veinings,
'Mid the emerald appearing.
Now the worn plough's red and rusting
Underneath the dripping thatches;
In the barn the flail is pounding,
Louder as men lift the latches;
And the beech is red and mouldering,
While the oak-leaf's brown and searing,
Through the elm spread golden veinings,
'Mid the emerald appearing.
Bird of Summer, bird of Summer,
Fly away to ancient Egypt,
Where the sun is ever burning;
Where the sand the hunted ostrich
In the Arab's eyes is spurning.
Thou it was who led the exiles,
Guiding them from Palestine,
When Child Jesus smiled, as Mary
Bade Him stroke those wings of thine.
Fly away to ancient Egypt,
Where the sun is ever burning;
Where the sand the hunted ostrich
In the Arab's eyes is spurning.
Thou it was who led the exiles,
Guiding them from Palestine,
When Child Jesus smiled, as Mary
Bade Him stroke those wings of thine.
Bird of Summer, bird of Summer,
That same God that bade thee lead them
Will be now a guide to thee,—
As thou led them 'cross the desert,
Will lead you across the sea.
Till the palms that know no Autumn
Shall burst green upon thy sight,
And thy wing shall flash through sunbeams,
And the river's waves of light.
That same God that bade thee lead them
Will be now a guide to thee,—
As thou led them 'cross the desert,
Will lead you across the sea.
Till the palms that know no Autumn
Shall burst green upon thy sight,
And thy wing shall flash through sunbeams,
And the river's waves of light.
| Historical & Legendary Ballads & Songs | |