William Blake, Songs of Experience: The Little Girl Found
All the night in woe,
Lyca's parents go:
Over vallies deep.
4
While the desarts weep.
Tired and woe-begone.
Hoarse with making moan:
Arm in arm seven days.
8
They trac'd the desart ways.
Seven nights they sleep.
Among shadows deep:
And dream they see their child
12
Pale thro' pathless ways
The fancied image strays.
16
With hollow piteous shriek
Rising from unrest,
The trembling woman prest ,
With feet of weary woe;
20
She could no further go.
In his arms he bore.
Her arm'd with sorrow sore:
Till before their way,
24
A couching lion lay.
Turning back was vain,
Soon his heavy mane.
Bore them to the ground;
28
Then he stalk'd around.
Smelling to his prey,
But their fears allay.
When he licks their hands:
32
And silent by them stands.
They look upon his eyes
And wondering behold.
36
A spirit arm'd in gold.
On his head a crown
On his shoulders down,
40
Gone was all their care.
Follow me he said,
Weep not for the maid;
In my palace deep.
44
Lyca lies asleep.
Then they followed,
Where the vision led;
And saw their sleeping child,
48
Among tygers wild.
To this day they dwell
In a lonely dell
Nor fear the wolvish howl,
52
Nor the lions growl.