Classic Poem

“Larks are we, as free as ether,
'Neath the sun we blithely fly;
Rising from the waving cornfield,
Soar we through the azure sky.”
Larks a thousand singing hovered
O'er the wide and even plain;
None that heard their joyous carol
Pent at home could long remain.

Wallerstein's proud castle leaving
Rode the Count, his son beside;
Who, before the Kaiser kneeling,
Soon shall win his spurs of pride.
Gladly hears the Count their carol,
Token of a numerous brood;
Whilst with beating heart beside him
Rides the youth in dauntless mood.

From the town with time-worn turrets,
Through the dark defiant gate,
As the golden Sunday dawneth,
Issue young and old elate.
Whilst the town-guard's youthful captain
Tow'rds a garden leads his bride;
Bids her list the larks' gay carol,
Plucks for her the violet's pride.

Soon, alas! these vernal mornings
Rife with bloom, fly quickly past;
E'en the months of summer-glory
Yield to winter suns at last.
“Larks are we, as free as ether,
Wherefore pine we lingering here?
Naught remains for song to utter,
Wander we o'er land and mere!”

In the misty autumn evening
From the gate the burghers steal;
Spread the nets in careful silence,
Listening as they crouching kneel.
Hark—a whirr! the larks are coming—
Hark—a rush! a louder flight!
Tow'rds the nets a troop is riding,
Loudly clash their weapons bright.

Shouts the aged Count from horseback:
“Aid us, Mary, purest Dame!
Whilst this saucy rout we punish,
Seizing thus our lawful game!”
Answering shouts the youthful captain:
“Draw the sword—thrust home or fall;
Larks may each at pleasure capture,
Little birds are free to all!”

As the cold gray morn is dawning,
On the field a youth lies dead;
O'er him, by his sword supported,
Stoops the Count in silence dread.
Yonder—o'er the captain's body
Sadly bends his lovely bride,
Whilst her long dishevelled tresses
Serve the bleeding corse to hide.

Once again, before departure,
Rise a thousand larks on high,
Fluttering in the sun of morning,
Warbling as they blithely fly:
“Larks are we, as free as ether,
Flying far o'er land and flood;
They that sought to snare and slay us
Welter in their oozing blood!”