54 FIELD SPORTS. Shoots from her like a blazing meteor swift The gazing village point their eyes to heaven. That stands at bay, the hern provokes their rage; TO A SKYLARK. The falconer in despair, his favorite bird And fixes in the ground his hated beak; Sees with malignant joy the victors proud Smeared with his blood, and on his marrow feast. * * * SOMERVILLE. TO A SKYLARK. Up with me! up with me into the clouds! Up with me! up with me into the clouds! Singing, singing, With clouds and sky about thee ringing, 55 56 TO A SKYLARK. Lift me, guide me till I find That spot which seems so to thy mind! I have walked through wildernesses dreary, Had I now the wings of a Faery, Up to thee would I fly. There is madness about thee, and joy divine In that song of thine; Lift me, guide me high and high To thy banqueting-place in the sky. Joyous as morning, Thou art laughing and scorning; Thou hast a nest for thy love and thy rest, And, though little troubled with sloth, Drunken Lark! thou wouldst be loth To be such a traveller as I. Happy, happy Liver, With a soul as strong as a mountain river Pouring out praise to the Almighty Giver, Joy and jollity be with us both! Alas! my journey, rugged and uneven, Through prickly moors or dusty ways must wind; But hearing thee, or others of thy kind, And hope for higher raptures, when life's day is done. WORDSWORTH. RUTH. SHE stood breast high amid the corn, On her cheek an autumn flush Deeply ripened: such a blush Round her eyes her tresses fell, But long lashes veiled a light, That had else been all too bright. 58 TO THE DAISY. And her hat, with shady brim, Sure, I said, Heaven did not mean, Lay thy sheaf adown and come, Share my harvest and my home. HOOD. TO THE DAISY. IN youth from rock to rock I went, Most pleased when most uneasy; And gladly Nature's love partake, Of thee, sweet Daisy! Thee Winter in the garland wears That thinly decks his few gray hairs; |