Winds were blowing, waters flowing,
We heard the steeds to battle going,
Oriana;

Aloud the hollow bugle blowing,
Oriana.

In the yew-wood black as night,
Oriana,

Ere I rode into the fight,
Oriana,

While blissful tears blinded my sight
By star-shine and by moonlight,
Oriana,

I to thee my troth did plight,
Oriana.

She stood upon the castle wall,
Oriana:

She watch'd my crest among them all,

Oriana:

She saw me fight, she heard me call,
When forth there stept a foeman tall,
Oriana,

Atween me and the castle wall,
Oriana.

The bitter arrow went aside,
Oriana:

The false, false arrow went aside,
Oriana:

The damned arrow glanced aside,

And pierced thy heart, my love, my bride,

Oriana!

Thy heart, my life, my love, my bride,

Oriana !

Oh! narrow, narrow was the space,

Oriana.

Loud, loud rung out the bugle's brays,
Oriana.

Oh! deathful stabs were dealt apace,
The battle deepen'd in its place,

Oriana;

But I was down upon my face,
Oriana.

They should have stabb'd me where I lay, Oriana!

How could I rise and come away,

Oriana?

How could I look upon the day?

They should have stabb'd me where I lay,
Oriana-

They should have trod me into clay,
Oriana.

O breaking heart that will not break,
Oriana!

O pale, pale face so sweet and meek,
Oriana !

Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak,
And then the tears run down my cheek,

Oriana :

What wantest thou? whom dost thou seek,

Oriana?

I cry aloud: none hear my cries,

Oriana.

Thou comest atween me and the skies,

Oriana.

I feel the tears of blood arise

Up from my heart unto my eyes,
Oriana.

Within thy heart my arrow lies,
Oriana.

O cursed hand! O cursed blow!
Oriana!

O happy thou that liest low,

Oriana !

All night the silence seems to flow
Beside me in my utter woe,

Oriana.

A weary, weary way I go,

Oriana.

When Norland winds pipe down the sea, Oriana,

I walk, I dare not think of thee,

Oriana.

(1853)

Thou liest beneath the greenwood tree,
I dare not die and come to thee,

Oriana.

I hear the roaring of the sea,

Oriana.

LIII

CIRCUMSTANCE

Two children in two neighbour villages
Playing mad pranks along the heathy leas;
Two strangers meeting at a festival;

Two lovers whispering by an orchard wall;
Two lives bound fast in one with golden ease;
Two graves grass-green beside a gray church-tower,
Wash'd with still rains and daisy-blossomed ;
Two children in one hamlet born and bred;
So runs the round of life from hour to hour.

(1853)

LIV

ENGLISH WAR SONG

WHO fears to die? Who fears to die?
Is there any here who fears to die?

He shall find what he fears; and none shall grieve
For the man who fears to die;

But the withering scorn of the many shall cleave
To the man who fears to die.

Chorus. Shout for England!
Ho! for England!
George for England!
Merry England!
England for aye!

The hollow at heart shall crouch forlorn,
He shall eat the bread of common scorn;

It shall be steeped in the salt, salt tear,

Shall be steeped in his own salt tear: Far better, far better he never were born Than to shame merry England here.

Chorus. Shout for England! etc.

There standeth our ancient enemy;
Hark! he shouteth-the ancient enemy!
On the ridge of the hill his banners rise;
They stream like fire in the skies;
Hold up the Lion of England on high
Till it dazzle and blind his eyes.

Chorus. Shout for England! etc.

Come along! we alone of the earth are free;
The child in our cradles is bolder than he ;
For where is the heart and strength of slaves?
Oh! where is the strength of slaves?

He is weak! we are strong; he a slave, we are free;
Come along! we will dig their graves.

Chorus. Shout for England! etc.

There standeth our ancient enemy;
Will he dare to battle with the free?
Spur along! spur amain! charge to the fight:
Charge! charge to the fight!
Hold up the Lion of England on high !
Shout for God and our right!

Chorus.--Shout for England! etc.

(1830)

LV

NATIONAL SONG

THERE is no land like England
Where'er the light of day be;
There are no hearts like English hearts,
Such hearts of oak as they be.
There is no land like England
Where'er the light of day be;
There are no men like Englishmen,
So tall and bold as they be.

Chorus. For the French the pope may shrive 'em,
For the devil a whit we heed 'em :
As for the French, God speed 'em
Unto their heart's desire,
And the merry devil drive 'em

Through the water and the fire.

Full Chorus.-Our glory is our freedom,
We lord it o'er the sea;

We are the sons of freedom,
We are free.

There is no land like England,
Where'er the light of day be;
There are no wives like English wives,
So fair and chaste as they be.
There is no land like England,
Where'er the light of day be;
There are no maids like English maids,
So beautiful as they be.

Chorus.--For the French, etc.

(1830)

LVI

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

I

YEAR after year unto her feet,

The while she slumbereth alone,
Over the purpled coverlet

The maiden's jet-black hair hath grown,
On either side her trancèd form

Forthstreaming from a braid of pearl ; The slumbrous light is rich and warm, And moves not on the rounded curl.

2

The silk star-braided coverlid

Unto her limbs itself doth mould
Languidly ever, and amid

Her full black ringlets downward rolled,
Glows forth each softly-shadowed arm,
With bracelets of the diamond bright;
Her constant beauty doth inform

Stillness with love and day with light.

3

She sleeps; her breathings are not heard
In palace chambers far apart;
The fragrant tresses are not stirred
That lie upon her charmèd heart.