206

207

208

A PIPER

A PIPER in the streets to-day

Set up, and tuned, and started to play,
And away, away, away on the tide
Of his music we started; on every side
Doors and windows were opened wide,

And men left down their work and came,
And women with petticoats coloured like flame.
And little bare feet that were blue with cold,
Went dancing back to the age of gold,

And all the world went gay, went gay,

For half an hour in the street to-day.

SEUMAS O'SULLIVAN

THE LITTLE DANCERS

LONELY, save for a few faint stars, the sky
Dreams; and lonely, below, the little street
Into its gloom retires, secluded and shy.
Scarcely the dumb roar enters this soft retreat;
And all is dark, save where come flooding rays
From a tavern window: there, to the brisk measure
Of an organ that down in an alley merrily plays,
Two children, all alone and no one by,
Holding their tattered frocks, through an airy maze.
Of motion, lightly threaded with nimble feet,
Dance sedately: face to face they gaze,

Their eyes shining, grave with a perfect pleasure.
LAURENCE BINYON

TWO NUT TREES

i

I HAD a little nut tree,

Nothing would it bear,

209

WHEN THE GREEN WOODS
LAUGH

WHEN the green woods laugh with the voice of joy,
And the dimpling stream runs laughing by;

When the air does laugh with our merry wit,
And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;

When the meadows laugh with lively green,
And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene,

When Mary and Susan and Emily

With their sweet round mouths sing "Ha Ha, He!"

When the painted birds laugh in the shade,
Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread,
Come live, and be merry, and join with me,
To sing the sweet chorus of "Ha, Ha, He!"

WILLIAM BLAKE

210

211

FA LA LA

My mistress frowns when she should play;
I'll please her with a Fa la la.

Sometimes she chides, but I straightway
Present her with a Fa la la.

You lovers that have loves astray
May win them with a Fa la la.
Quick music's best, for still they say
None pleaseth like your Fa la la.

IT WAS A LOVER

IT was a Lover, and his lasse,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
That ore the greene corne-field did passe,

In spring time, the onely pretty ring time,
When Birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
Sweet Lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the Rie,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino,
These prettie Country folks would lie,

In spring time, the onely pretty ring time,
When Birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
Sweet Lovers love the spring.

This Carroll they began that houre,

With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino;
How that a life was but a Flower,

212

In spring time, the onely pretty ring time,
When Birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
Sweet Lovers love the spring.

And therefore take the present time,
With a hey and a ho, and a hey nonino;
For love is crowned with the prime

In spring time, the onely pretty ring time,
When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding:
Sweet Lovers love the spring.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

213

TARANTELLA

Do you remember an Inn,

Miranda?

Do you remember an Inn?

And the tedding and the spreading

Of the straw for a bedding,

And the fleas that tease in the High Pyrenees,

And the wine that tasted of the tar?

And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers

(Under the dark of the vine verandah)?

214

Do you remember an Inn, Miranda,

Do you remember an Inn?

And the cheers and the jeers of the young muleteers

Who hadn't got a penny,

And who weren't paying any,

And the hammer at the doors and the Din?

And the Hip! Hop! Hap!

Of the clap

Of the hands to the twirl and the swirl

Of the girl gone chancing,

Glancing,

Dancing,

Backing and advancing,

Snapping of the clapper to the spin

Out and in—

And the Ting, Tong, Tang of the guitar!

Do you remember an Inn,

Of the feet of the dead to the ground.

No sound:

Only the boom

Of the far Waterfall like Doom.

HILAIRE BELLOC

"I LOVED A LASS"

I LOVED a lass, a fair one,

As fair as e'er was seen;
She was indeed a rare one,