The Refusal of Charon

Why look the distant mountains
 * So gloomy and so drear?

Are rain clouds passing o'er them,
 * Or is the tempest near?

No shadow of the tempest
 * Is there, nor wind nor rain&mdash;

'Tis Charon that is passing by,
 * With all his gloomy train.

The young men march before him,
 * In all their strength and pride;

The tender little infants,
 * They totter by his side;

The old men walk behind him,
 * And earnestly they pray&mdash;

Both old and young imploring him
 * To grant some brief delay.

"O, Charon! halt, we pray thee,
 * Beside some little town,

Or near some sparkling fountain,
 * Where the waters wimple down!

The old will drink and be refreshed,
 * The young the disc will fling,

And the tender little children
 * Pluck flowers beside the spring."

"I will not stay my journey,
 * Nor halt by any town,

Near any sparkling fountain,
 * Where the waters wimple down:

The mothers coming to the well,
 * Would know the babes they bore,

The wives would clasp their husbands,
 * Nor could I part them more."