THE LITTLE GIRL LOSTIn futurityI prophesyThat the earth from sleep(Grave the sentence deep)Shall arise, and seekFor her Maker meek;And the desert wildBecome a garden mild.In the southern clime,Where the summer’s primeNever fades away,Lovely Lyca lay.Seven summers oldLovely Lyca told.She had wandered long,Hearing wild birds’ song.‘Sweet sleep, come to me,Underneath this tree;Do father, mother, weep?Where can Lyca sleep?‘Lost in desert wildIs your little child.How can Lyca sleepIf her mother weep?‘If her heart does ache,Then let Lyca wake;If my mother sleep,Lyca shall not weep.‘Frowning, frowning night,O’er this desert brightLet thy moon arise,While I close my eyes.’Sleeping Lyca lay,While the beasts of prey,Come from caverns deep,Viewed the maid asleep.The kingly lion stood,And the virgin viewed:Then he gambolled roundO’er the hallowed ground.Leopards, tigers, playRound her as she lay;While the lion oldBowed his mane of gold,And her bosom lick,And upon her neck,From his eyes of flame,Ruby tears there came;While the lionessLoosed her slender dress,And naked they conveyedTo caves the sleeping maid.Illustration:Illustration:
In futurityI prophesyThat the earth from sleep(Grave the sentence deep)
Shall arise, and seekFor her Maker meek;And the desert wildBecome a garden mild.
In the southern clime,Where the summer’s primeNever fades away,Lovely Lyca lay.
Seven summers oldLovely Lyca told.She had wandered long,Hearing wild birds’ song.
‘Sweet sleep, come to me,Underneath this tree;Do father, mother, weep?Where can Lyca sleep?
‘Lost in desert wildIs your little child.How can Lyca sleepIf her mother weep?
‘If her heart does ache,Then let Lyca wake;If my mother sleep,Lyca shall not weep.
‘Frowning, frowning night,O’er this desert brightLet thy moon arise,While I close my eyes.’
Sleeping Lyca lay,While the beasts of prey,Come from caverns deep,Viewed the maid asleep.
The kingly lion stood,And the virgin viewed:Then he gambolled roundO’er the hallowed ground.
Leopards, tigers, playRound her as she lay;While the lion oldBowed his mane of gold,
And her bosom lick,And upon her neck,From his eyes of flame,Ruby tears there came;
While the lionessLoosed her slender dress,And naked they conveyedTo caves the sleeping maid.
Illustration:
Illustration: