Songs of Experience/The Little Girl Found

ALL the night in woe,

Lyca's parents go;

Over vallies deep

While the desarts weep.

Tired and woe begone,

Hoarse with making moan

Arm in arm seven days

They trac'd the desart ways.

Seven nights they sleep,

Among shadows deep,

And dream they see their child

Starv'd in desart wild

Pale thro pathless ways

The fancied image strays

Famish'd weeping weak

With hollow piteous shriek

Rising from unrest,

The trembling woman prest,

With feet of weary woe:

She could no further go.

In his arms he bore

Her arm'd with sorrow sore;

Till before their way,

A couching lion lay.

Turning back was vain,

Soon his heavy mane

Bore them to the ground;

Then he stalk'd around,

Smelling to his prey,

But their fears allay,

When he licks their hands:

And silent by them stands.

They look upon his eyes

Fill'd with deep surprise;

And wondering behold,

A Spirit arm'd in gold.

On his head a crown,

On his shoulders down,

Flow'd his golden hair,

Gone was all their care.

Follow me he said,

Weep not for the maid;

In my palace deep

Lyca lies asleep.

Then they followed

Where the vision led;

And saw their sleeping child,

Among tygers wild.

To this day they dwell

In a lonely dell

Nor fear the wolvish howl,

Nor the lions growl.