HA, little one! Would'st like a torrent run That spurns the mountain steep, And falls in thunder? O, brave leap! brave leap! 'Twas excellently done. Nay, I am not in fun! You silly thing, that you should slink And hide among the cresses! only think! Pooh! 'tis a very Nile! there, there! that's right! Flash out again into the light! Have at the biggest stone -- O, nobly meant! I swear it was magnificent! And thus I chaffed the stream, but I was wrong: He never dreamt of fountains Rock-scooped in mighty mountains; He never made pretence To power; but in his own sweet innocence He danced, and sang thereto a simple song; And after that one frolic, To sneer at which were well-nigh diabolic, He sang it all day long. |