The Refusal of Charon
Appearance
Why look the distant mountains
- So gloomy and so drear?
Are rain clouds passing o'er them,
- Or is the tempest near?
No shadow of the tempest
- Is there, nor wind nor rain—
'Tis Charon that is passing by,
- With all his gloomy train.
The young men march before him,
- In all their strength and pride;
The tender little infants,
- They totter by his side;
The old men walk behind him,
- And earnestly they pray—
Both old and young imploring him
- To grant some brief delay.
"O, Charon! halt, we pray thee,
- Beside some little town,
Or near some sparkling fountain,
- Where the waters wimple down!
The old will drink and be refreshed,
- The young the disc will fling,
And the tender little children
- Pluck flowers beside the spring."
"I will not stay my journey,
- Nor halt by any town,
Near any sparkling fountain,
- Where the waters wimple down:
The mothers coming to the well,
- Would know the babes they bore,
The wives would clasp their husbands,
- Nor could I part them more."