Come Hither: A Collection of Rhymes and Poems for the Young of All Ages
COME HITHER
A COLLECTION OF RHYMES AND POEMS FOR THE YOUNG OF ALL AGES
MADE BY WALTER DE LA MARE AND EMBELLISHED BY ALEC BUCKELS
CONSTABLE & CO LONDON BOMBAY SYDNEY MCMXXIII.
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY ROBERT MACLEHOSE AND CO. LTD. THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, GLASGOW
TO LAURA COLTMAN IN LOVE AND GRATITUDE
In my rovings and ramblings as a boy I had often skirted the old stone house in the hollow. But my first clear remembrance of it is of a hot summer's day. I had climbed to the crest of a hill till then unknown to me, and stood there, hot and breathless in the bright slippery grass, looking down on its grey walls and chimneys as if out of a dream. And as if out of a dream already familiar to me.
My real intention in setting out from home that morning had been to get to a place called East Dene. My mother had often spoken to me of East Dene—of its trees and waters and green pastures, and the rare birds and flowers to be found there. Ages ago, she had told me, an ancestor of our family had dwelt in this place. But she smiled a little strangely when I asked her to take me there. All in good time, my dear, she whispered into my ear, all in very good time! Just follow your small nose. What kind of time, I wondered, was very good time . And follow my nose —how far? Such reflections indeed only made me the more anxious to be gone.
Early that morning, then, I had started out when the dew was still sparkling, and the night mists had but just lifted. But my young legs soon tired of the steep, boulder-strown hills, the chalky ravines, and burning sun, and having, as I say, come into view of the house in the valley, I went no further. Instead, I sat down on the hot turf—the sweet smell of thyme in the air, a few harebells nodding around me—and stared, down and down.
After that first visit, scarcely a week passed but that I found myself on this hill again. The remembrance of the house stayed in my mind; would keep returning to me, like a bird to its nest. Sometimes even in the middle of the night I would wake up and lie unable to sleep again for thinking of it—seeing it in my head; solemn, secret, strange.
Unknown
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE STORY OF THIS BOOK
MORNING AND MAY
THIS IS THE KEY
A NEW YEAR CAROL
HEY! NOW THE DAY DAWNS
THE SLUGGARD
HARK, HARK, THE LARK
THE LARK NOW LEAVES HIS WATERY NEST
EARLY MORN
GOOD-MORROW
THE QUESTION
THE FRESH AIR
WEATHERS
GREEN RAIN
SONG ON MAY MORNING
SISTER, AWAKE!
HERE WE COME A-PIPING
AS WE DANCE ROUND
OLD MAY SONG
SONG OF THE MAYERS
AND AS FOR ME
THE SPRING
SPRING, THE SWEET SPRING
A MAY DAY
EASTER
PLEASURE IT IS
MOTHER, HOME AND SWEETHEART
I SING OF A MAIDEN
LULLABY
THE LITTLE BLACK BOY
THE ECHOING GREEN
IF I HAD BUT TWO LITTLE WINGS
I REMEMBER
MIDNIGHT ON THE GREAT WESTERN
THE RUNAWAY
ON EASTNOR KNOLL
"HOME NO MORE HOME TO ME"
DALYAUNCE
CHRISTMAS AT SEA
TWILIGHT
"HOW'S MY BOY?"
CAM' YE BY?
MY BOY TAMMY
ROSY APPLE, LEMON, OR PEAR
IN PRAISE OF ISABEL PENNELL
MY SWEET SWEETING
SWEET STAY-AT-HOME
WAITING
THE SICK CHILD
STILLNESS
LINES ON RECEIVING HIS MOTHER'S PICTURE
THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER
BONNIE GEORGE CAMPBELL
THE ORPHAN'S SONG
THE FIRST GRIEF
THE POPLAR FIELD
FAREWELL
"YE BANKS AND BRAES O' BONNIE DOON"
TO A RIVER IN THE SOUTH
THE DESERTED HOUSE
AN OLD WOMAN OF THE ROADS
A DESERTED HOME
UNDER THE WOODS
"BLOWS THE WIND TO-DAY"
THE TWA BROTHERS
THE DEAD KNIGHT
SHEATH AND KNIFE
I HAVE A YOUNG SISTER
ANNABEL LEE
THE SHELL
LONDON BRIDGE
HOLY THURSDAY
THE MAYORS
THE FINE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN
BRING US IN GOOD ALE
THE VISION OF MAC CONGLINNE
STOOL-BALL
MILKING PAILS
THE PEDLAR'S SONG
FINE KNACKS FOR LADIES
OH! DEAR!
SLEDBURN FAIR
WIDDECOMBE FAIR
GIPSIES
THE IDLERS
THE WRAGGLE TAGGLE GIPSIES
WHERE DO THE GIPSIES COME FROM?
BEGGARS
"WEEP, WEEP, YE WOODMEN!"
MY HANDSOME GILDEROY
BEASTS OF THE FIELD FOWLS OF THE AIR.
BINGO
THE IRISH HARPER AND HIS DOG
POOR OLD HORSE
AY ME, ALAS, HEIGH HO!
THE FLY
BÊTE HUMAINE
THE LAMB
THE SALE OF THE PET LAMB
A CHILD'S PET
THE SNARE
THE MONK AND HIS PET CAT
THE TYGER
THE NYMPH COMPLAINING FOR THE DEATH OF HER FAWN
OF ALL THE BIRDS
THE DEAD SPARROW
ON A LITTLE BIRD
ADLESTROP
THE REVERIE OF POOR SUSAN
THE THRUSH'S SONG
SWEET SUFFOLK OWL
WHO? WHO?
WHEN CATS RUN HOME
ONCE
THE WATER-OUSEL
L'OISEAU BLEU
I HAD A DOVE
PHILOMEL
A SPARROW-HAWK
THE EAGLE
THE TWA CORBIES
IN THE WILDERNESS
STUPIDITY STREET
COME WARY ONE
UPON THE LARK AND THE FOWLER
THE BIRDS
TWO PEWITS
TO A WATERFOWL
MIDNIGHT
ELPHIN : OUPH : FAY.
COME UNTO THESE YELLOW SANDS
THE ELVES' DANCE
FOR A MOCKING VOICE
WHERE THE BEE SUCKS
ECHO
THE SPLENDOUR FALLS
THE FAIRIES
OVERHEARD ON A SALTMARSH
THE FAIRY THORN
THE QUEEN OF ELFLAND
LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI
SABRINA
NOW THE HUNGRY LION ROARS
THE FAIRIES FEAST
SUMMER : GREENWOOD SOLITUDE.
THE HUNT IS UP
THE CHEERFUL HORN
JOHN PEEL
THE SCHOOLBOY
A BOY'S SONG
MARKET DAY
UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE
IN SUMMER
LUBBER BREEZE
A SUMMER'S DAY
LEISURE
THE HAPPY COUNTRYMAN
"O FOR A BOOKE"
GREEN BROOM
THE TWELVE OXEN
LAVENDER'S BLUE
THE GARDEN
CHERRY-RIPE
CHERRY-RIPE
SONG
THE MYSTERY
THE ROSE
SONG
THE BOWER OF BLISS
SMALL FOUNTAINS
THE INVITATION, TO JANE
THE RECOLLECTION
THE GOAT PATHS
UNDER A WILTSHIRE APPLE TREE
WONDER
SONG
THE BOOK
TETHY'S FESTIVAL
WAR
A WAR SONG TO ENGLISHMEN
FOR SOLDIERS
BATTLE-HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
"I HEARD A SOLDIER"
THE DUG-OUT
NOCTURNE
THE DEAD
THE END
THE CROWNS
THE CHILDREN'S BELLS
MEN WHO MARCH AWAY
BUDMOUTH DEARS
TRAFALGAR
MESSMATES
SONG FOR ALL SEAS, ALL SHIPS
HOHENLINDEN
HAME, HAME, HAME
DARK ROSALEEN
MY LUVE'S IN GERMANY
A WEARY LOT IS THINE
CHARLIE HE'S MY DARLING
THE FAREWELL
THE FLOWERS OF THE FOREST
"AS I WAS GOING"
OF THE GREAT AND FAMOUS
A LAMENTATION
WHAT IF SOME LITTLE PAIN THE PASSAGE HAVE
HENRY BEFORE AGINCOURT: October 25, 1415
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
THE MYRTLE BUSH GREW SHADY
THE FORT OF RATHANGAN
A PIPER
THE LITTLE DANCERS
TWO NUT TREES
WHEN THE GREEN WOODS LAUGH
FA LA LA
IT WAS A LOVER
HEY, NONNY NO!
TARANTELLA
"I LOVED A LASS"
GREEN GRASS
THE LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER
THE MEN OF GOTHAM
EARLY MORNING MEADOW SONG
DABBLING IN THE DEW
BONNY LASSIE O!
THE MAD MAID'S SONG
TELL ME WHERE IS FANCIE BRED
MUSIC
THE BELLS OF SHANDON
UPON A RING OF BELLS
THE BELFRY
IL PENSEROSO
CHIMES
CITIES DROWNED
THE BELL-MAN
AUTUMN LEAVES : WINTER SNOW.
TO MEADOWS
THE COTTAGER TO HER INFANT
TO AUTUMN
THE SOLITARY REAPER
"THE HEAVING ROSES OF THE HEDGE ARE STIRRED"
AUTUMN
"WHEN THAT I WAS AND A LITTLE TINY BOY"
SONG
FALL, LEAVES, FALL
THE SANDS OF DEE
BREAK, BREAK, BREAK
ODE TO THE WEST WIND
THAT WIND
A FROSTY NIGHT
IN A DREAR-NIGHTED DECEMBER
A SONG OF WINTER
COLD BLOWS THE WIND
SKATING
LONDON SNOW
FOR SNOW
VELVET SHOES
LUCY GRAY
GONE WERE BUT THE WINTER COLD
A CHILD'S WINTER EVENING
A CAROL FOR SAINT STEPHEN'S DAY
THE BURNING BABE
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY
WELCOME YULE!
NAY, IVY, NAY
TU-WHIT TO-WHO
BLOW, BLOW, THOU WINTER WIND
"LIKE STARS UPON SOME GLOOMY GROVE"
SPRING QUIET
A WIDOW BIRD
ECHO'S LAMENT FOR NARCISSUS
THIS LIFE
SWEET CONTENT
OH, SWEET CONTENT
RARELY, RARELY, COMEST THOU
BIRTHRIGHT
O SORROW!
WHEN THE LAMP IS SHATTERED
ONCE
UPON THE IMAGE OF DEATH
ADIEU! FAREWELL EARTH'S BLISS!
MESSAGES
DOUBTS
HARK
A LYKE-WAKE DIRGE
HE IS THE LONELY GREATNESS
"O SING UNTO MY ROUNDELAY"
FEAR NO MORE
A LAND DIRGE
THE GRAVE OF LOVE
THE BURIAL
ON THE TOMBS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY
A FUNERALL SONG
ON JOHN DONNE'S BOOK OF POEMS
O, LIFT ONE THOUGHT
ELEGY
UPON A CHILD THAT DIED
THE TURNSTILE
THE EXEQUY
"I FOUND HER OUT THERE"
I NEVER SHALL LOVE THE SNOW AGAIN
THE COMFORTERS
THE CHILDLESS FATHER
"LYDIA IS GONE THIS MANY A YEAR"
REMEMBRANCE
SONG
"WHERE SHALL THE LOVER REST"
REMEMBER
READEN OV A HEAD-STWONE
GOLDEN SLUMBERS
MATER DOLOROSA
WEEP YOU NO MORE
FAERY SONG
THE WORLD OF LIGHT
SILENT IS THE HOUSE
THE MISTRESS OF VISION
FAR
TOM O' BEDLAM
THE NIGHT-PIECE
MY PLAID AWA'
BUCKEE BENE
WHAT'S IN THERE?
THE WEE WEE MAN
I SAW A PEACOCK
GIRAFFE AND TREE
THE WATER LADY
THE SONG OF WANDERING AENGUS
THE WAY THROUGH THE WOODS
THE FALLOW DEER AT THE LONELY HOUSE
DEER
THE TWO SWANS
THE EARL OF MAR'S DAUGHTER
THE BROOMFIELD HILL
THE CHANGELING
THE HOST OF THE AIR
THE LOVE-TALKER
MARIANA
KEITH OF RAVELSTON
UNWELCOME
ON YES TOR
THE WITCHES' SONG
THE RAVEN
THE WITCH'S BALLAD
ANNAN WATER
SONG
DEADMAN'S DIRGE
BOATS AT NIGHT
A VOICE SINGS
THE WANDERING SPECTRE
LUCIFER IN STARLIGHT
THERE WAS A KNIGHT
THE FALSE KNIGHT UPON THE ROAD
CHRISTABEL
THE FRUIT PLUCKER
THE HAUNTED PALACE
THE HOUSE OF RICHESSE
THE OLD CITY
THE TWO SPIRITS
"LILY BRIGHT AND SHINE-A"
SILLY SWEETHEART
HERE COMES A LUSTY WOOER
THREE KNIGHTS FROM SPAIN
THE WHUMMIL BORE
HEY, WULLY WINE
DOWN IN YONDER MEADOW
QUOTH JOHN TO JOAN
MY MISTRESS IS AS FAIR AS FINE
DIAPHENIA
AEGLAMOUR'S LAMENT
MY TRUE-LOVE HATH MY HEART
A BIRTHDAY
LIFE OF LIFE
A SONNET OF THE MOON
THE OUTLAW OF LOCH LENE
O WHAT IF THE FOWLER
WHITHER AWAY?
BONNY BARBARA ALLAN
PROUD MAISIE
A LEAVE TAKING
THE UNQUIET GRAVE
A LAMENT: 1547
I DIED TRUE
SONG
IT WAS THE TIME OF ROSES
AULD ROBIN GRAY
THE LAWLANDS O' HOLLAND
THE CHURCHYARD ON THE SANDS
ROSE AYLMER
TO HELEN
"THERE IS A LADY SWEET AND KIND"
"LOVE NOT ME FOR COMELY GRACE"
NOW WOLDE
EGYPT'S MIGHT IS TUMBLED DOWN
DREAM LOVE
AT COMMON DAWN
"ECHO THEN SHALL AGAIN TELL HER I FOLLOW."
GLYCINE'S SONG
THE CRYSTAL CABINET
THE CHASE
TONY O!
ROMANCE
HALLO MY FANCY
SONNET
ON FIRST LOOKING INTO CHAPMAN'S HOMER
"TO SEA"
BERMUDAS
THE OLD SHIPS
THE RIME OF THE ANCIENT MARINER
THE CHILD AND THE MARINER
THE PARROTS
OZYMANDIAS OF EGYPT
ST. ANTHONY'S TOWNSHIP
SILENCE
KUBLA KHAN
LOST LOVE
ECSTASY
THE SEA OF DEATH
THE FROZEN OCEAN
THE END OF THE WORLD
OLD TALES AND BALLADRY
FLANNAN ISLE
THE GOLDEN VANITY
BROWN ROBYN
ONE FRIDAY MORN
THE SHIP
THE MOON-CHILD
THE MERMAID
QUO' THE TWEED
SIR PATRICK SPENCE
ALLISON GROSS
SIR HUGH, OR, THE JEW'S DAUGHTER
EDWARD
THE LAIRD O' LOGIE
FAIR ANNIE
HELEN OF KIRCONNELL
THE BONNIE BOWER
WEEP NO MORE
THE TWA SISTERS
SWEET WILLIAM AND MAY MARGARET
THE WIFE OF USHER'S WELL
EVENING AND DREAM
DREAM-PEDLARY
THE EVENING SUN
TO THE EVENING STAR
TO DAISIES, NOT TO SHUT SO SOON
OF THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN
VIRTUE
NIGHT
NURSE'S SONG
THE EVENING PRIMROSE
"TIME, YOU OLD GIPSY MAN"
AFTERWARDS
STEPPING WESTWARD
FOLDING THE FLOCKS
TO THE NIGHT
LIGHT THE LAMPS UP, LAMPLIGHTER!
WILL YOU COME?
COME!
HYMN TO DIANA
THE CLOUDS HAVE LEFT THE SKY
WITH HOW SAD STEPS
IN DISPRAISE OF THE MOON
THE WANING MOON
WE'LL GO NO MORE A-ROVING
SONG OF THE NIGHT AT DAYBREAK
THE NIGHT WILL NEVER STAY
LINES FOR A BED AT KELMSCOTT MANOR
ROCK, BALL, FIDDLE
BEFORE SLEEPING
ON A QUIET CONSCIENCE
SONG
THE EVE OF SAINT MARK
LAID IN MY QUIET BED
AT NIGHT
ECHO
THE SHADOW OF NIGHT
OUT IN THE DARK
NOCTURNE
THE ANGEL
"ANGEL SPIRITS OF SLEEP"
A DREAM
THE LAND OF DREAMS
THE GARDEN
I KNOW A LITTLE GARDEN-CLOSE
FOLLOW
UP-HILL
LOVE
A ROYAL GUEST
EVE
EVE
ADAM
THE SEVEN VIRGINS
LULLY, LULLAY
BALME
MY MASTER HATH A GARDEN
THIS IS THE KEY
ABOUT AND ROUND ABOUT
ABOUT AND ROUNDABOUT
AND SO FAREWELL
INDEXES
INDEX OF AUTHORS
FOOTNOTES:
