Classic Poem

1.

The water rush'd the water swell'd
 A Fisher sat thereby;
He looked upon the rod he held,
 His heart was full of joy.

2.

His eye he gave, his ear he gave
 To watch the flowing stream;
When lo! above the parted wave
 A water-nymph was seen.

3.

She softly spoke, she softly sang,
 “Ah cruel! wherefore wish
With wit of man and wiles of man
 To lure my harmless fish?

4.

“Couldst thou but know how merrily
 The Trout plays in the deep,
Thou wouldst go with me speedily
 His cool abode to seek.

5.

“Doth not the Moon, doth not the Sun
 In ocean love to bathe?
And do they not more bright become
 When they have breath'd the wave?

6.

“Doth that deep Heaven lure thee not
 That wave of lucid blue?
Doth thine own image lure thee not
 Into eternal dew?”

7.

The water rush'd, the water swell'd,
 It lav'd his naked foot;
His heart with fond desire was fill'd
 As at love's soft salute.

8.

She spoke to him, she sang to him
 His love of earth was o'er
With gentle force she drew him in
 He ne'er was heard of more.