46 SELECT POETRY

THE LADY-BIRD IN THE FIELDS.

Lapy-BirpD! lady-bird! fly away home,
The field-mouse has gone to her nest ;

The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes,
And the bees and the birds are at rest. _

Lady-bird ! lady-bird! fly away home,
The glow-worm is lighting his lamp ;

The dew’s falling fast, and your fine speckled wings
Will be wet with the close-clinging damp.

Lady-bird ! lady-bird! fly away home,
The fairy-bells tinkle afar;
Make haste, or they'll catch you; and harness you
fast,
With a cobweb to Oberon’s! car.

TO A BEE.

Tuov wert out betimes, thou busy, busy bee!
When abroad I took my early way,

Before the cow from her resting-place

Had risen up, and left her trace
On the meadow with dew so grey,

I saw thee, thou busy, busy bee!

Thou wert alive, thou busy, busy bee!
When the crowd in their sleep were dead 3

4 Oberon—the king of the fairies.