Читать книгу Once Upon a Time, and Other Child-Verses - Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman - Страница 9

Where lovely lights and shadows play,

And white lambs frolic all the day,

Where blooming trees their branches toss—

Then will you come to Banbury Cross."

The white horse arched his slender neck,

Silver bells are ringing;

Snow-white he was without a speck,

Silver bells are ringing.

An old wife held his bridle-rein,

(The king was there with all his train),

Her gray hair fluttered in the wind,

Her gaze turned inward on her mind;

And not one face seemed she to see

In all that goodly company.

Gems sparkled on her withered hands;

Her ankles gleamed with silver bands

On which sweet silver bells were hung,

And always, when she stirred, they rung.

The white horse waited for the start,

Silver bells are ringing;

Original Size

Before him leapt his fiery heart,

Silver bells are ringing.

Up on his back the old wife sprung,

Her silver bells, how sweet

they rung!

She gave her milk-white

steed the rein,

And round they swept,

and round again.

A merry sight it was

to see,

And the silver bells

The Old Wife.

rang lustily.

The gallant horse with gold was shod;

So fleetly leapt he o'er the sod,

He passed the king before he knew,

And past his flying shadow flew.

A pretty sight it was, forsooth,

Silver bells are ringing;

For dame and children, maid and youth,

Silver bells are ringing.

The princess laughed out with delight,

And clapped her hands, so lily-white—

The darling princess, sweet was she

As any flowering hawthorn-tree.

She stood beside her sire, the king,

And heard the silvery music ring,

And watched the white horse, o'er the

Sweep round, and round, and round again

Until the old wife slacked his pace

Before the princess' wondering face,

Then snatched her up before they knew,

Silver bells are ringing;

And with her from their vision flew,

Silver bells are ringing.

The nobles to their saddles spring

And follow, headed by the king!

But, when they reach it, it is gone

The white dew falls, the sun is set,

And no trace of the princess yet.

They gallop over meadows green;

They leap the bars that lie between;