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Not a soul would dare to sleep; …
It was midnight on the waters;
And a storm was on the deep。
'Tis a fearful thing in winter
To be shattered by the blast;
And to hear the rattling trumpet
Thunder; 〃Cut away the mast!〃
So we shuddered there in silence; …
For the stoutest held his breath;
While the hungry sea was roaring
And the breakers talked with death。
As thus we sat in darkness;
Each one busy with his prayers;
〃We are lost!〃 the captain shouted;
As he staggered down the stairs。
But his little daughter whispered;
As she took his icy hand;
〃Isn't God upon the ocean;
Just the same as on the land?〃
Then we kissed the little maiden;
And we spake in better cheer;
And we anchored safe in harbor
When the morn was shining clear。
James Thomas Fields '1816…1881'
THE NIGHTINGALE AND GLOW…WORM
A nightingale; that all day long
Had cheered the village with his song;
Nor yet at eve his note suspended;
Nor yet when eventide was ended;
Began to feel; as well he might;
The keen demands of appetite;
When; looking eagerly around;
He spied far off; upon the ground;
A something shining in the dark;
And knew the glow…worm by his spark;
So; stooping down from hawthorn top;
He thought to put him in his crop。
The worm; aware of his intent;
Harangued him thus; right eloquent:
〃Did you admire my lamp;〃 quoth he;
〃As much as I your minstrelsy;
You would abhor to do me wrong;
As much as I to spoil your song;
For 'twas the self…same Power Divine
Taught you to sing; and me to shine;
That you with music; I with light;
Might beautify and cheer the night。〃
The songster heard his short oration;
And warbling out his approbation;
Released him; as my story tells;
And found a supper somewhere else。
Hence jarring sectaries may learn
Their real interest to discern;
That brother should not war with brother;
And worry and devour each other;
But sing and shine by sweet consent;
Till life's poor transient night is spent;
Respecting in each other's case
The gifts of nature and of grace。
Those Christians best deserve the name
Who studiously make peace their aim;
Peace both the duty and the prize
Of him that creeps and him that flies。
William Cowper '1731…1808'
SIR LARK AND KING SUN: A PARABLE
From 〃Adela Cathcart〃
〃Good morrow; my lord!〃 in the sky alone;
Sang the lark; as the sun ascended his throne。
〃Shine on me; my lord; I only am come;
Of all your servants; to welcome you home。
I have flown right up; a whole hour; I swear;
To catch the first shine of your golden hair。〃
〃Must I thank you; then;〃 said the king; 〃Sir Lark;
For flying so high and hating the dark?
You ask a full cup for half a thirst:
Half was love of me; and half love to be first。
There's many a bird makes no such haste;
But waits till I come: that's as much to my taste。〃
And King Sun hid his head in a turban of cloud;
And Sir Lark stopped singing; quite vexed and cowed;
But he flew up higher; and thought; 〃Anon
The wrath of the king will be over and gone;
And his crown; shining out of its cloudy fold;
Will change my brown feathers to a glory of gold。〃
So he flew … with the strength of a lark he flew;
But; as he rose; the cloud rose too;
And not one gleam of the golden hair
Came through the depths of the misty air;
Till; weary with flying; with sighing sore;
The strong sun…seeker could do no more。
His wings had had no chrism of gold:
And his feathers felt withered and worn and old;
He faltered; and sank; and dropped like a stone。
And there on her nest; where he left her; alone
Sat his little wife on her little eggs;
Keeping them warm with wings and legs。
Did I say alone? Ah; no such thing!
Full in her face was shining the king。
〃Welcome; Sir Lark! You look tired;〃 said he;
〃Up is not always the best way to me。
While you have been singing so high and away;
I've been shining to your little wife all day。〃
He had set his crown all about the nest;
And out of the midst shone her little brown breast;
And so glorious was she in russet gold;
That for wonder and awe Sir Lark grew cold。
He popped his head under her wing; and lay
As still as a stone; till King Sun was away。
George Macdonald '1824…1905'
THE COURTSHIP; MERRY MARRIAGE; AND PICNIC DINNER
OF COCK ROBIN AND JENNY WREN
It was a merry time
When Jenny Wren was young;
So neatly as she danced;
And so sweetly as she sung;
Robin Redbreast lost his heart:
He was a gallant bird;
He doffed his hat to Jenny;
And thus to her he said: …
〃My dearest Jenny Wren;
If you will but be mine;
You shall dine on cherry pie;
And drink nice currant wine。
I'll dress you like a Goldfinch;
Or like a Peacock gay;
So if you'll have me; Jenny;
Let us appoint the day。〃
Jenny blushed behind her fan;
And thus declared her mind:
〃Then let it be to…morrow; Bob;
I take your offer kind …
Cherry pie is very good!
So is currant wine!
But I will wear my brown gown;
And never dress too fine。〃
Robin rose up early
At the break of day;
He flew to Jenny Wren's house;
To sing a roundelay。
He met the Cock and Hen;
And bid the Cock declare;
This was his wedding…day
With Jenny Wren; the fair。
The Cock then blew his horn;
To let the neighbors know;
This was Robin's wedding…day;
And they might see the show。
And first came Parson Rook;
With his spectacles and band;
And one of Mother Hubbard's books
He held within his hand。
Then followed him the Lark;
For he could sweetly sing;
And he was to be clerk
At Cock Robin's wedding。
He sang of Robin's love
For little Jenny Wren;
And when he came unto the end;
Then he began again。
Then came the bride and bridegroom;
Quite plainly was she dressed;
And blushed so much; her cheeks were
As red as Robin's breast。
But Robin cheered her up;
〃My pretty Jen;〃 said he;
〃We're going to be married
And happy we shall be。〃
The Goldfinch came on next;
To give away the bride;
The Linnet; being bride's maid;
Walked by Jenny's side;
And; as she was a…walking;
She said; 〃Upon my word;
I think that your Cock Robin
Is a very pretty bird。〃
The Bulfinch walked by Robin;
And thus to him did say;
〃Pray; mark; friend Robin Redbreast;
That Goldfinch; dressed so gay;
What though her gay apparel
Becomes her very well;
Yet Jenny's modest dress and look
Must bear away the bell。〃
The Blackbird and the Thrush;
And charming Nightingale;
Whose sweet jug sweetly echoes
Through every grove and dale;
The Sparrow and Tom Tit;
And many more; were there:
All came to see the wedding
Of Jenny Wren; the fair。
〃O then;〃 says Parson Rook;
〃Who gives this maid away?〃
〃I do;〃 says the Goldfinch;
〃And her fortune I will pay:
Here's a bag of grain of many sorts;
And other things beside;
Now happy be the bridegr