And the children that sport by the old oaken tree.”
Ah gently the ship glided over the sea!
Hark![13] what was that? Hark! Hark to the shout!
“Fire!”[10] Then a tramp and a rout, and a tumult of voices uprose on the air;—
And the mother knelt[8] down, and the half-spoken prayer,
That she offered to God in her agony wild,
Was, “Father, have mercy, look down on my child!”
She flew to her husband,[1] she clung to his side,
Oh there was her refuge whate’er might betide.
“Fire!”[10] “Fire!” It was raging above and below—