SONGS OF LIFE'S PILGRIMAGE

THE HAPPY HEART

From Patient Grissell

ART thou poor; yet hast thou golden slumbers?
O, sweet content!

Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexed?
O, punishment!

Dost thou laugh, to see how fools are vexèd
To add to golden numbers, golden numbers?
O, sweet content! O, sweet content!

Work apace, apace, apace, apace;

Honest labour bears a lovely face;

Then hey nonny, nonny; hey nonny, nonny! 10

Canst drink the waters of the crispèd spring?
O, sweet content!

Swimm'st thou in wealth; yet sink'st in thine
own tears?

O, punishment!

Then he that patiently want's burden bears,
No burden bears; but is a king, a king!
O, sweet content! O, sweet content!

Work apace, apace, apace, apace;
Honest labour bears a lovely face;

Then hey nonny, nonny; hey nonny, nonny! 20

1603.

Thomas Dekker.

1786.

A WISH

MINE be a cot beside the hill;

A bee-hive's hum shall soothe my ear;
A willowy brook, that turns a mill,
With many a fall shall linger near.

The swallow, oft, beneath my thatch,
Shall twitter from her clay-built nest;
Oft shall the pilgrim lift the latch,

And share my meal, a welcome guest.

Around my ivied porch shall spring

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Each fragrant flower that drinks the dew;
And Lucy, at her wheel, shall sing
In russet gown and apron blue.

The village-church, among the trees,
Where first our marriage-vows were
given,

With merry peals shall swell the breeze,
And point with taper spire to heaven.

Samuel Rogers.

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16

SONG

RARELY, rarely, comest thou,
Spirit of Delight!

Wherefore hast thou left me now
Many a day and night?

Many a weary night and day
'T is since thou art fled away.

How shall ever one like me
Win thee back again?
With the joyous and the free
Thou wilt scoff at pain.
Spirit false! thou hast forgot

All but those who need thee not.

As a lizard with the shade

Of a trembling leaf,

Thou with sorrow art dismayed;

Even the sighs of grief

Reproach thee, that thou art not near,

And reproach thou wilt not hear.

Let me set my mournful ditty

To a merry measure,

Thou wilt never come for pity,
Thou wilt come for pleasure,

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