Poems (Hornblower)/Lines (A child is born—now ring the bells)
For works with similar titles, see Lines.
LINES.
A child is born—now ring the bells,
The hen is in his father's arms,
The mother's heart with rapture swells,
And hush'd are all love's fond alarms.
How sweet the sound these bells convey,
How bright the morning seems to break,
Mother, rejoice!they seem to say,
Rejoice, for thy dear infant's sake!
The hen is in his father's arms,
The mother's heart with rapture swells,
And hush'd are all love's fond alarms.
How sweet the sound these bells convey,
How bright the morning seems to break,
Mother, rejoice!they seem to say,
Rejoice, for thy dear infant's sake!
Ay, shed fond tears!—God's holiest gift
Is in that feeble infant given;
Thine eyes in smiling love uplift,
And crave for him the care of Heaven.
Dreams of his honor, virtue, truth,
In loveliest vision round thee play;
See that they crown his opening youth,
Yes! guide him on his onward way.
Is in that feeble infant given;
Thine eyes in smiling love uplift,
And crave for him the care of Heaven.
Dreams of his honor, virtue, truth,
In loveliest vision round thee play;
See that they crown his opening youth,
Yes! guide him on his onward way.
Brief years have past—another hell
Now summons forth that infant heir,
And to some hearts might only tell
Of horns of toil and painful care—
But to his ardent ear it speaks
Of honoured labours, prizes high;
The glow is on his childish cheeks
Of a victorious industry.
Now summons forth that infant heir,
And to some hearts might only tell
Of horns of toil and painful care—
But to his ardent ear it speaks
Of honoured labours, prizes high;
The glow is on his childish cheeks
Of a victorious industry.
He will fulfil a mother's dream,
Her eye in pride and love shall rest
On him, whose every childish scheme
Is breathed to her confiding breast.
She shall behold him noble, high,
Rejoice his virtuous fame to hear;
That bell, now ringing through the sky,
Still sweetly shall salute her ear.
Her eye in pride and love shall rest
On him, whose every childish scheme
Is breathed to her confiding breast.
She shall behold him noble, high,
Rejoice his virtuous fame to hear;
That bell, now ringing through the sky,
Still sweetly shall salute her ear.
Yes! he is all a mother's love
Would picture in her hour of prayer;
And now his steps in manhood move,
And other hells ring on the air.—
All yes!it is his wedding hour,
And joy now breathes in every tone;
A lovely bride—a meek, bright flower,
A faithful heart, are all his own.
Would picture in her hour of prayer;
And now his steps in manhood move,
And other hells ring on the air.—
All yes!it is his wedding hour,
And joy now breathes in every tone;
A lovely bride—a meek, bright flower,
A faithful heart, are all his own.
Ah, welcome bells! now gaily ring,
With peal on peal salute the ah;
What happy thoughts ye with you bring,
Of sweet domestic love and care.
See! her glad blush has marked your sound,
And brighter beams his radiant eye;
Yes! pom' your melody around,
Ring out your silver notes on high!
With peal on peal salute the ah;
What happy thoughts ye with you bring,
Of sweet domestic love and care.
See! her glad blush has marked your sound,
And brighter beams his radiant eye;
Yes! pom' your melody around,
Ring out your silver notes on high!
The mother's heart has heard ye too,
The mother's tears your peal has blest,
As with a love for ever true,
Once more she clasps him to her breast:
At every peal ye ring she smiles—
Smiles that would chase her tears away:
Although her fond domestic wiles
Some moments would prolong his stay.
The mother's tears your peal has blest,
As with a love for ever true,
Once more she clasps him to her breast:
At every peal ye ring she smiles—
Smiles that would chase her tears away:
Although her fond domestic wiles
Some moments would prolong his stay.
Long years have past—ah! happy bells,
Once more ye ring—hut change is there—
Your mournful peal with anguish swells
The heart of that once joyous heir.—
Sad is your sound; the loved of years,
The smiling bride—the dearer wife,
Unconscious lies—while his warm tears
Are pouring from his bosom's strife.
Once more ye ring—hut change is there—
Your mournful peal with anguish swells
The heart of that once joyous heir.—
Sad is your sound; the loved of years,
The smiling bride—the dearer wife,
Unconscious lies—while his warm tears
Are pouring from his bosom's strife.
Your lengthened notes—your solemn peal,
Speak of bereavement, sorrow, death;
No longer may those notes reveal
A soul of joy in every breath.
Weeping, he lists your altered tone
At distance die upon the air;
The kind, fond heart, so late his own,
No more his vacant horn may share.
Speak of bereavement, sorrow, death;
No longer may those notes reveal
A soul of joy in every breath.
Weeping, he lists your altered tone
At distance die upon the air;
The kind, fond heart, so late his own,
No more his vacant horn may share.
Yet once again, changed bells!ye sound,
And to the holy aisle ye call;
With heart subdued, and thought profound,
He hears your solemn accents fall—
Bright hopes,fair dreams, there for him wait,
Yea, an eternity of love!
Ah! sweet once more, despite of fate,
He hears your angel summons move.
And to the holy aisle ye call;
With heart subdued, and thought profound,
He hears your solemn accents fall—
Bright hopes,fair dreams, there for him wait,
Yea, an eternity of love!
Ah! sweet once more, despite of fate,
He hears your angel summons move.
Peal on! peal on! a glorious peal!
The strife is o'er, the victory his—
With folded hands, now o'er him steal
The visions of immortal bliss;
And calmly now he hears your sound,
The peace of heaven upon his brow,
His foot upon the sacred ground,—
Yes, ye have soothed the mourner now!
The strife is o'er, the victory his—
With folded hands, now o'er him steal
The visions of immortal bliss;
And calmly now he hears your sound,
The peace of heaven upon his brow,
His foot upon the sacred ground,—
Yes, ye have soothed the mourner now!