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O memory, take my hand to-day
And lead me thro' the darkened bridge
Washed by the wild Atlantic spray
And spanning many a wind-swept ridge
Of sorrow, grief, of love and joy,...

The Text is here given from the Percy Folio, with some emendations as suggested by Child.
...

These were my companions going forth by night
(For Chil! Look you, for Chil!)
Now come I to whistle them the ending of the fight.
(Chil! Vanguards of Chil!)
Word they gave me overhead of quarry newly slain,...

Sweet chimes! that in the loneliness of night
Salute the passing hour, and in the dark
And silent chambers of the household mark
The movements of the myriad orbs of light!...

Brief, on a flying night,
From the shaken tower,
A flock of bells take flight,
And go with the hour.

Like birds from the cote to the gales,
Abrupt - O hark!
A fleet of bells set sails,...

And a little farther
the Fu Manchu mustache
curved in mock epic proportions
of a scimitar un-sheaved for action,
perhaps the executioner's progress
his victims entombed to their skulls...

As they are crawling up to you
think of Angor Wat
the sweating walls
cold in stone
steam broiling in the jungle;
or, that most ancient of men,
the Chinese beggar
the thin rinds of his skin...

Through the windows on the park
Float the waltzes, weirdly sweet;
In the light, and in the dark,
Rings the chime of dancing feet.
Mid the branches, all a-row,
Fiery jewels gleam and glow;...

"In China there lived a little man,
His name was Chingery Wangery Chan."

"His legs were short, his feet were small,
And this little man could not walk at all."

"Chingery changery ri co day,...

Scarcely a breath about the rocky stair
Moved, but the growing tide from verge to verge,
Heaving salt fragrance on the midnight air,
Climbed with a murmurous and fitful surge....

Little chipmunk, do you know
All you mean to me? -
She and I and Long Ago,
And you there in the tree;
With that nut between your paws,
Half-way to your twittering jaws,...

Beautiful! Sir, you may say so. Thar isn't her match in the county;
Is thar, old gal, Chiquita, my darling, my beauty?
Feel of that neck, sir, thar's velvet! Whoa! steady, ah, will you, you vixen!...

Under the maple boughs we sat,
Annie Leslie and I together;
She was trimming her sea-side hat
With leaves we talked about the weather.

The sun-beams lit her gleaming hair...

We met one fresh June-morn, Chlodine,
Where two roads came together;
I'd travelled far through storm and rain,
And you, through pleasant weather.
I loved you for the light, Chlodine,...

Air - "Daintie Davie."


I.

It was the charming month of May,
When all the flow'rs were fresh and gay,
One morning, by the break of day,
The youthful charming Chloe...

Careless rhymer, it is true,
That my favourite colour's blue:
But am I
To be made a victim, sir,
If to puddings I prefer
Cambridge [pi]?

If with giddier girls I play...

Air - "My lodging is on the cold ground."


I.

My Chloris, mark how green the groves,
The primrose banks how fair:
The balmy gales awake the flowers,
And wave thy flaxen hair.
...

Chloris, my friend, I pray you your misconduct to forswear;
The wife of poor old Ibycus should have more savoir faire.
A woman at your time of life, and drawing near death's door,...

(See Note 33)

April for me I choose!
In it the old things tumble,
In it things new refresh us;
It makes a mighty rumble, -
But peace is not so precious
As that his will man shows.
...

If thou canst not give pleasure to all by thy deeds and thy knowledge,
Give it then, unto the few; many to please is but vain.