THE BALLAD OF ORIANA. My heart is wasted with my woe, Oriana. There is no rest for me below, Oriana. When the long dun wolds are ribb'd with snow, And loud the Norland whirlwinds blow, Oriana, Alone I wander to and fro, Oriana. Ere the light on dark was growing, At midnight the cock was crowing, Winds were blowing, waters flowing, Aloud the hollow bugle blowing, In the yew-wood black as night, Ere I rode into the fight, Oriana, While blissful tears blinded my sight I to thee my troth did plight, She stood upon the castle-wall, She watch'd my crest among them all, She saw me fight, she heard me call, Oriana, Atween me and the castle-wall, The bitter arrow went aside, The false, false arrow went aside, The damned arrow glanced aside, And pierced thy heart, my love, my bride, Thy heart, my life, my love, my bride, Oh! narrow, narrow was the space, Oriana. Loud, loud rung out the bugle's brays, Oriana. Oh! deathful stabs were dealt apace, The battle deepen'd in its place, Oriana; But I was down upon my face, Oriana. They should have stabb'd me where I lay, Oriana! How could I rise and come away, Oriana? How could I look upon the day? They should have stabb'd me where I lay, Oriana They should have trod me into clay, Oriana. O breaking heart that will not break, Oriana! O pale, pale face so sweet and meek, Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak, Oriana: What wantest thou? whom dost thou seek, Oriana? I cry aloud: none hear my cries, Thou comest atween me and the skies, Oriana. I feel the tears of blood arise Up from my heart unto my eyes, Within thy heart my arrow lies, O cursed hand! O cursed blow! O happy thou that liest low, All night the silence seems to flow Oriana. A weary, weary way I go, Oriana. When Norland winds pipe down the sea, Oriana, I walk, I dare not think of thee, Oriana. Thou liest beneath the greenwood tree, Oriana. I hear the roaring of the sea, Oriana. CIRCUMSTANCE. Two children in two neighbor villages Two lives bound fast in one with golden ease; THE MERMAN. WHO would be Sitting alone, Singing alone Under the sea, With a crown of gold, 2. I would be a merman bold; I would sit and sing the whole of the day; And then we would wander away, away 3. There would be neither moon nor star; But the wave would make music above us afar- Neither moon nor star. We would call aloud in the dreamy dells, They would pelt me with starry spangles and shells, But I would throw to them back in mine Turkis and agate and almondine : Then leaping out upon them unseen And kiss them again till they kiss'd me Oh! what a happy life were mine THE MERMAID. 1. WHO would be With a comb of pearl, 2. I would be a mermaid fair; I would sing to myself the whole of the day; From under my starry sea-bud crown Low adown and around, And I should look like a fountain of gold With a shrill inner sound, Over the throne In the midst of the hall; Till that great sea-snake under the sea From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps Would slowly trail himself sevenfold Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate With his large calm eyes for the love of me. And all the mermen under the sea Would feel their immortality Die in their hearts for the love of me. |