The Shoo Méaou

As the young millet, by the genial rain
Enriched, shoots up luxuriant and tall,
So, when we southward marched with toil and pain,
The earl of Shaou cheered and inspired us all.

We pushed our barrows, and our burdens bore ;
We drove our waggons, and our oxen led.
“The work once done, our labour there is o’er,
And home we travel,” to ourselves we said.

Close kept our footmen round the chariot track ;
Our eager host in close battalions sped.
“When once our work is done, then we go back,
Our labour over,” to themselves they said.

Hard was the work we had at Seay to do,
But Shaou’s great earl the city soon upreared.
The host its service gave with ardour true ;—
Such power in all the earl’s commands appeared !

We did on plains and low lands what was meet;
We cleared the springs and streams, the land to
The earl of Shaou announced his work complete,
And the king’s heart reposed, at rest again.