The dew was falling fast,
The stars began to blink;
I heard a voice; it said,
"Drink, pretty creature, drink!"
And looking o'er the hedge
Before me I espied
A snow-white mountain lamb,
With a maiden by its side.
Nor sheep nor kine were near;
The lamb was all alone,
And by a slender cord
Was tethered to a stone;
With one knee on the grass
Did the little maiden kneel,
While to this mountain lamb.
She gave its evening meal.
"What ails thee, young one; what?
Why pull so at thy cord?
Is it not well with thee?
Well both for bed and board?
Thy plot of grass is soft,
And green as grass can be;
Rest, little young one, rest;
What is't that aileth thee?
"What is it thou would'st seek?
What is wanting to thy heart?
Thy limbs, are they not strong?
And beautiful thou art.
This grass is tender grass;
These flowers they have no peers;
And that green corn all day long
Is rustling in they ears!
"Rest little young one, rest;
Hast thou forgot the day
Why my father found the first
In places far away;
Many flocks were on the hills,
But thou wert owned by none,
And thy mother from thy side
For evermore was gone.
"He took thee in his arms,
And in pity brought thee home;
Oh! blessed day for thee!
Then whither would'st thou roam?
A faithful nurse thou hast;
The dam that did the yean
Upon the mountain top
No kinder could have been.
"Thou know'st that thrice a day
I have brought thee in this can
Fresh water from the brook,
As clear as ever ran.
And twice, too, in the day,
When the ground is wet with dew,
I bring thee draughts of milk--
Warm milk it is, and new.
"Here, then, thou need'st not dread
The raven in the sky;
Night and day thou'rt safe;
Our cottage is hard by.
Why bleat so after me?
Why pull so at thy chain?
Sleep, and at break of day,
I will come to thee again."