SIMPLE ENGLISH POEMS. PART III. MATTHEW ARNOLD: 1822. THE FORSAKEN MERMAN. COME, dear children, let us away; Call her once before you go- In a voice that she will know; "Margaret Margaret!" Children's voices should be dear spray. 5 10 15 20 Come, dear children, come away down! Call no more! One last look at the white-wall'd town, And the little grey church on the windy shore She will not come though you call all day. Children dear, was it yesterday 25 30 We heard the sweet bells over the bay? Through the surf and through the swell Round the world for ever and aye 35 40 45 Children dear, was it yesterday (Call yet once) that she went away ? On a red gold throne in the heart of the sea, She comb'd its bright hair, and she tended it well, 50 She sigh'd, she look'd up through the clear green sea; 55 She said: "I must go, for my kinsfolk pray 60 In the little grey church on the shore to-day. Children dear, were we long alone? 65 "The sea grows stormy, the little ones moan. Long prayers," I said, "in the world they say," "Come," I said, and we rose through the surf in the bay. We went up the beach, by the sandy down, prayers, Where the sea-stocks bloom, to the white-wall'd town, She sat by the pillar; we saw her clear: Loud prays the priest, shut stands the door. Down, down, down, Down to the depths of the sea. She sits at her wheel in the humming town, Singing most joyfully. Hark, what she sings: "O joy, O joy, 75 80 85 For the humming street, and the child with its toy; 90 For the priest, and the bell, and the holy well; For the wheel where I spun, And the blessed light of the sun." And the whizzing wheel stands still. She steals to the window, and looks at the sand; And over the sand at the sea; And her eyes are set in a stare; And anon there breaks a sigh, 95 100 105 For the cold grey eyes of a little mermaiden, Come away, away, children. 110 She will start from her slumber She will hear the winds howling, SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE: 1772-1834. THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER. PART I. Ir is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. "By thy long gray beard and glittering eye, "The Bridegroom's doors are opened wide, 5 The guests are met, the feast is set: Mayst hear the merry din." He holds him with his skinny hand, "There was a ship," quoth he. 10 "Hold off! unhand me, gray-beard loon!" Eftsoons his hand dropt he. "The ship was cheered, the harbour cleared, Merrily did we drop Below the kirk, below the hill, Below the lighthouse top. The Wedding-Guest here beat his breast, 30 |