Springlets in the dawn are streaming,
Diamonds on the brake are gleaming;
And foresters have busy been,

To track the buck in thicket green;
Now we come to chaunt our lay,
"Waken lords and ladies gay?”

Waken lords and ladies gay,
To the green wood haste away;
We can shew you where he lies,
Fleet of foot, and tall of size,

We can shew the marks he made,

When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed;

You shall see him brought to bay,

"Waken lords and ladies gay."

Louder, louder chaunt the lay,

Waken lords and ladies gay!

Tell them youth and mirth and glee,

Run a course as well as we;

VOL. I.

Time, stern huntsman! who can baulk,

Staunch as hound, and fleet as hawk;

Think of this, and rise with day,

Gentle lords and ladies gay.

LXXV.

SONG OF MORRICE DANCERS.

STRUTT.

WHEN full in prime the pulse is strong,
And wanton youth hails mirth and song;
Cares avaunt, and fears alarming!-
Joy abounds, with pleasures charming.

Chorus, with the bells.

How sweetly then the changes ring,

With heigh down, ho down, ding dong ding.

But when bright youth shall fade away,

And age transmew the black locks grey;

When tott'ring steps the staff demand,
And palsies shake the head and hand;

The sprightly changes cease to ring,

With heigh down, ho down, ding dong ding.

The carol blithe and dancing gay

No longer claim the holiday;

But time a doleful story tells,

The bell-rope breaks, and cracks the bells ;-
The bells that did so cheerly ring,

With heigh down, ho down, ding dong ding.

The deep-ton'd tenor tolls the knell,—
A summons for departure home;

Of life it is the curfew bell,

And heavily it sounds, Boam!-Boam!-
One, one dull bell no change can ring,

With heigh down, ho down, ding dong ding.

LXXVI.

QUEEN ORRACÀ.

-SOUTHEY.

THE friars five have girt their loins,

And taken staff in hand;

And never shall those friars again

Hear mass in Christian land.

They went to Queen Orraca,

To thank her and bless her then;

And Queen Orraca in tears

Knelt to the holy men.

Three things, Queen Orraca,

We prophecy to you: