Our Children's Songs With Illustrations

200 Children's Song Lyrics, incuding Christian Hymns - online songbook

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	170	SONGS FOR BOYHOOD.
	THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. Lord Byron. There was a sound of revelry by night, And Belgium's capital had gathered then Her beauty and her chivalry, and bright The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men. A thousand hearts beat happily ; and when Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spake again, And all went merry as a marriage-bell; But hush! hark! a deep sound strikes like a ris�ing knell!		And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before! Arm! arm! It is � it is � the cannon's opening roar! Within a windowed niche of that high hall Sat Brunswick's fated chieftain. He did hear That sound the first amidst the festival, And caught its tone with Death's prophetic ear; And when they smiled because he deemed it near, His heart more truly knew that peal too well Which stretched his father on a bloody bier, And roused the vengeance blood alone could quell: He rushed into the field, and, foremost fighting, fell.
	Did ye not hear it ? No, 'twas but the wind, Or the car rattling o'er the stony street; On with the dance! let joy be nnconfined! No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet To chase the glowing Hours with flying feet� But hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more, As if the clouds its echo would repeat,		Ah, then and there was hurrying to and fro, And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress, And cheeks all pale, which but an hour ago Blushed at the praise of their own loveliness. And there were sudden partings, such as press The life from out young hearts, and choking sighs Which ne'er might be repeated. Who could guess