Page:Poems that every child should know (ed. Burt, 1904).djvu/209

Rh Ah, darkest night! and then a speck—

A light! a light! a light! a light!

It grew—a star-lit flag unfurled!

It grew to be Time's burst of dawn;

He gained a world! he gave that world

Its watch- word: "On! and on!"

.

The Shepherd of King Admetus.

came a youth upon the earth,

Some thousand years ago,

Whose slender hands were nothing worth,

Whether to plow, or reap, or sow.

Upon an empty tortoise-shell

He stretched some chords, and drew

Music that made men's bosoms swell

Fearless, or brimmed their eyes with dew.

Then King Admetus, one who had

Pure taste by right divine,

Decreed his singing not too bad

To hear between the cups of wine:

And so, well pleased with being soothed

Into a sweet half-sleep.