The damned arrow glanced aside, Thy heart, my life, my love, my bride, O! narrow, narrow was the space, Loud, loud rung out the bugle's brays, O! deathful stabs were dealt apace, The battle deepened in its place, Oriana; But I was down upon my face, Oriana. They should have stabbed me where I lay, Oriana! How could I rise and come away, Oriana? How could I look upon the day? They should have stabbed me where I lay, Oriana, They should have trod me into clay, Oriana. O! breaking heart that will not break, Oriana; O! pale, pale face so sweet and meek, Oriana. Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak, Oriana: What wantest thou? whom dost thou seek, Oriana? THE BALLAD OF ORIANA. I cry aloud: none hear my cries, Oriana. Thou comest atween me and the skies, Oriana. I feel the tears of blood arise Up from my heart unto my eyes, Within thy heart my arrow lies, O cursed hand! O cursed blow! O happy thou that liest low, Oriana! All night the silence seems to flow Oriana. A weary, weary way I go, Oriana. When Norland winds pipe down the sea, I walk, I dare not think of thee, Oriana. Thou liest beneath the greenwood tree, I dare not die and come to thee, Oriana. I hear the roaring of the sea, 3 33 THE MERMAN. For, hid in ringlets day and night, I'd touch her neck so warm and white. And I would be the girdle About her dainty, dainty waist, And I should know if it beat right, I'd clasp it round so close and tight. And I would be the necklace, And all day long to fall and rise With her laughter or her sighs, I scarce should be unclasped at night. 35 I would be a merman bold; I would sit and sing the whole of the day; With the mermaids in and out of the rocks, And then we would wander away, away To the pale-green sea-groves straight and high, There would be neither moon nor star; But the wave would make music above us afar, — Low thunder and light in the magic night, Neither moon nor star. We would call aloud in the dreamy dells, Call to each other and whoop and cry All night, merrily, merrily; They would pelt me with starry spangles and shells, Laughing and clapping their hands between, All night, merrily, merrily; But I would throw them back in mine Turkis and agate and almondine : O! what a happy life were mine |