Page:Poems Welby.djvu/145

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137
Honeyed words by sweet lips spoken
Round thee have their witchery cast;
May the charm remain unbroken
When thy nightly dream is past.

Child of gladness, thou art sinking
To thy sweet rest soft and deep,
For the thirsty flowers are drinking
Every tear the bright stars weep;
As the silvery light of even
Gathers round the parting day,
So do gentle dreams of heaven
Flit about thee—dream away.

Weary warrior, lately grasping
In thy hand the flashing blade,
In sweet dreams thou 'rt fondly clasping
Lovely forms now lowly laid;
Rosy lips thine own are pressing,
Fairy children round thee play,
But with every transient blessing
Melts that soothing dream away.

Lonely captive, sleep is flinging
Round thee many a witching spell;
Low sweet tones are round thee ringing.
Tones, that lately breathed farewell;
Clanking chains thy limbs encumber—
Hush! ye wild winds, peaceful be—