the elm and blasted tree.
99
Methought the elm in words like these,
Which seemed to float upon the breeze,
The solitary tree addressed.
And thus its own light heart expressed:—
"Alas! poor, miserable tree,
How often I have pitied thee,
And wondered why our master left
Thee mournful here, of leaves bereft;
Why far away he has not borne
Thy faded form, so tempest torn;
Why, still his powerful arm should spare
Thy sapless trunk, and branches bare.
See, all but thou are verdant here;
I shudder at thy aspect drear.
Sad sigh the winds that o'er thee blow,
And wildly sing the song of wo.
But, as for thee, sweet, laughing vine,
That round that withered trunk dost twine,
Why art thou wedded to despair?
For thou art young, and gay, and fair.
O, come to my supporting arms;
Fondly I '11 cherish all thy charms;
And leave that mournful, blasted tree,
And come, sweet vine, O, come to me."
And now, methought, with saddest moan,
In sweet, though melancholy tone.
The desolated tree replied,
While, softly sad, the breezes sighed:—
Which seemed to float upon the breeze,
The solitary tree addressed.
And thus its own light heart expressed:—
"Alas! poor, miserable tree,
How often I have pitied thee,
And wondered why our master left
Thee mournful here, of leaves bereft;
Why far away he has not borne
Thy faded form, so tempest torn;
Why, still his powerful arm should spare
Thy sapless trunk, and branches bare.
See, all but thou are verdant here;
I shudder at thy aspect drear.
Sad sigh the winds that o'er thee blow,
And wildly sing the song of wo.
But, as for thee, sweet, laughing vine,
That round that withered trunk dost twine,
Why art thou wedded to despair?
For thou art young, and gay, and fair.
O, come to my supporting arms;
Fondly I '11 cherish all thy charms;
And leave that mournful, blasted tree,
And come, sweet vine, O, come to me."
And now, methought, with saddest moan,
In sweet, though melancholy tone.
The desolated tree replied,
While, softly sad, the breezes sighed:—
