Page:The Hundred Best Poems (lyrical) in the English language - second series.djvu/96

 But I strained my utmost sense to catch this truth, and mark: "There are families out grazing, like cattle in the park." "A pair of peasants must be saved, even if we build an ark."

A merry jest, a merry laugh: each strolled upon his way; One was my page, a lad I reared and bore with day by day; One was my youngest maid, as sweet and white as cream in May.

Other footsteps followed softly with a weightier tramp; Voices said: " Picked soldiers have been summoned from the camp, To quell these base-born ruffians who make free to howl and stamp."

"Howl and stamp?" one answered: "They made free to hurl a stone At the minister's state coach, well aimed and stoutly thrown." "There's work then for the soldiers, for this rank crop must be mown."

"One I saw, a poor old fool with ashes on his head, Whimpering because a girl had snatched his crust of bread: Then he dropped; when some one raised him, it turned out he was dead." 74