The Little Girl Lost

5Shall arise, and seek

6for her Maker meek;

7And the desert wild

8Become a garden mild.

9In the southern clime,

10Where the summer's prime

11Never fades away,

12Lovely Lyca lay.

13Seven summers old

14Lovely Lyca told.

15She had wandered long,

16Hearing wild birds' song.

17"Sweet sleep, come to me

18Underneath this tree;

19Do father, mother, weep?

20Where can Lyca sleep?

21"Lost in desert wild

22Is your little child.

23How can Lyca sleep

24If her mother weep?

25"If her heart does ache,

26Then let Lyca wake;

27If my mother sleep,

28Lyca shall not weep.

29"Frowning, frowning night,

30O'er this desert bright

31Let thy moon arise,

32While I close my eyes."

33Sleeping Lyca lay

34While the beasts of prey,

35Come from caverns deep,

36Viewed the maid asleep.

37The kingly lion stood,

38And the virgin viewed:

39Then he gambolled round

40O'er the hallowed ground.

41Leopards, tigers, play

42Round her as she lay;

43While the lion old

44Bowed his mane of gold,

45And her breast did lick

46And upon her neck,

47From his eyes of flame,

48Ruby tears there came;

49While the lioness

50Loosed her slender dress,

51And naked they conveyed

52To caves the sleeping maid.