The Dells of Orrerie

The drowsy dawn

Half oped his eye,
A red ray shone

Across the sky;
And o'er dim lawn

The sun rose high
In chariot bright and golden!
I wandered then,

From sorrow free,
O'er dale and fen

Of Orrerie,
Through pleasant glen

And greenwood lea,
'Mid mossy trunks and olden.
Not far or wide

Had been my way,
Till lo! I spied

The graceful fay —
Of maids the pride

With heart so gay

And showers of curling tresses!

Quick leaped I o'er
The bramble screen,

And bowed before
Her beauteous mien,

And prayed full sore
From her, my queen,

A thousand sweet caresses.

Thus sighed my pray'r:

"O radiant Sprite!
O branch most fair

Of beauty bright!
'Twill cause despair

As black as night
If pleasantly you flee not —
"Come, seek some glade

Beside the sea,
From every shade

Oi sorrow free,
Or, peerless maid,

A stor mo chree!
In life I'll shortly be not."
"O minstrel, pause —

Fair youth, beware!
For I must cause

That black despair
Though ne'er there was

A suit more fair —

'Tis all lost time and labour!

"For sure you know
That God above,

Who made earth grow

With grass and grove,
Said long ago:

The wed wife of your neighbour! '"