390
AFTERNOON
The wild bee's hum,
The lone bird's drum,
O'er the wide pastures faintly come;
And soft and clear
Falls on my ear
The cow-bell's tinkle, far and near!
The lone bird's drum,
O'er the wide pastures faintly come;
And soft and clear
Falls on my ear
The cow-bell's tinkle, far and near!
Before my eyes
Three blue peaks rise,
Piercing the bright autumnal skies;
Silent and grand,
On either hand,
Far mountain heights majestic stand.
Three blue peaks rise,
Piercing the bright autumnal skies;
Silent and grand,
On either hand,
Far mountain heights majestic stand.
By wreaths of mist
The vales are kissed—
Fair, floating clouds of amethyst,
That follow on,
Through shade and sun,
Where'er the river's course may run.
The vales are kissed—
Fair, floating clouds of amethyst,
That follow on,
Through shade and sun,
Where'er the river's course may run.
Here, looking down
On roof-trees brown,
I catch fair glimpses of the town.
There, far away,
The shadows play
On crags and bowlders, huge and gray.
On roof-trees brown,
I catch fair glimpses of the town.
There, far away,
The shadows play
On crags and bowlders, huge and gray.
All whispering low,
The breezes go—
The wandering birds flit to and fro
Winged motes float by
Me as I lie,
And yellow leaves drop silently.
The breezes go—
The wandering birds flit to and fro
Winged motes float by
Me as I lie,
And yellow leaves drop silently.