Introduction
A Child's Garden: 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-41
The Child Alone,
Garden Days,
Envoys
A Child's Garden
De Ludis et Hortis
I. Bed in Summer
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.
I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people's feet
Still going past me in the street.
And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
Solem Quis Dicere Falsum Audeat?
Bruma riget; flavum lumen candela ministrat;
Braccas induimus; surgimus ante diem.
Aestas cum revenit patior contraria jussa;
Immo etiam plena luce cubile peto.
Jussa valent; peditumque sonum via mittit ad aures;
Arboris in summa fronde moventur aves.
Ludus et arridet; lux est aptissima ludo;
Nonne nefas pleno talia jussa die?
Bruma riget; flavum lumen candela ministrat;
Braccas induimus; surgimus ante diem.
Aestas cum revenit patior contraria jussa;
Immo etiam plena luce cubile peto.
Jussa valent; peditumque sonum via mittit ad aures;
Arboris in summa fronde moventur aves.
Ludus et arridet; lux est aptissima ludo;
Nonne nefas pleno talia jussa die?
II. A Thought
It is very nice to think
The world is full of meat and drink,
With little children saying grace
In every Christian kind of place.
It is very nice to think
The world is full of meat and drink,
With little children saying grace
In every Christian kind of place.
O Fortunatos Nimium!
Quis sine laetitia reputet loca nulla carere
Potu, nec quot sint ulla carere cibo;
Sed manibus pueros orare ubicunque supinis --
Gens nisi qua nescit barbara forte deos.
Quis sine laetitia reputet loca nulla carere
Potu, nec quot sint ulla carere cibo;
Sed manibus pueros orare ubicunque supinis --
Gens nisi qua nescit barbara forte deos.
III. At the Seaside
When I was down beside the sea
A wooden spade they gave to me
To dig the sandy shore.
My holes were empty like a cup,
In every hole the sea came up,
Till it could come no more.
When I was down beside the sea
A wooden spade they gave to me
To dig the sandy shore.
My holes were empty like a cup,
In every hole the sea came up,
Till it could come no more.
Fossor Unus
Ad mare me vexere olim, palamque dederunt;
Lignea erat; per litora fossas
Effeci, ut calices vacuas; modo vertitur aestus
Et totas refluum mare complet.
Ad mare me vexere olim, palamque dederunt;
Lignea erat; per litora fossas
Effeci, ut calices vacuas; modo vertitur aestus
Et totas refluum mare complet.
IV. Young Night Thought
All night long and every night,
When my mamma puts out the light,
I see the people marching by,
As plain as day, before my eye.
Armies and emperors and kings,
All carrying different kinds of things,
And marching in so grand a way,
You never saw the like by day.
So fine a show was never seen,
At the great circus on the green;
For every kind of beast and man
Is marching in that caravan.
At first they move a little slow,
But still the faster on they go,
And still beside them close I keep
Until we reach the town of Sleep.
All night long and every night,
When my mamma puts out the light,
I see the people marching by,
As plain as day, before my eye.
Armies and emperors and kings,
All carrying different kinds of things,
And marching in so grand a way,
You never saw the like by day.
So fine a show was never seen,
At the great circus on the green;
For every kind of beast and man
Is marching in that caravan.
At first they move a little slow,
But still the faster on they go,
And still beside them close I keep
Until we reach the town of Sleep.
In imagine pertransit homo
Cum nox tenebris occupat aethera,
Cum me cubantem luminibus mea
Jam mater exstinctis relinquit,
Agmina conspicio virorum,
Reges tremendos, lucidius die,
Ducesque fortes non sine copiis,
Pompam diurna augustiorem,
Ponderibus variis onustos.
Quis apparatu splendidior fuit
Circus? Ferarum jam series venit:
Quot terra produxit, quot ipse
Phoebe vides, genera aggregantur.
Primo moventur lentius; at gradu
Sensim citato corripiunt viam;
Nec defatigor, dum silenti
Pompa quiescat in Urbe Somni.
Cum nox tenebris occupat aethera,
Cum me cubantem luminibus mea
Jam mater exstinctis relinquit,
Agmina conspicio virorum,
Reges tremendos, lucidius die,
Ducesque fortes non sine copiis,
Pompam diurna augustiorem,
Ponderibus variis onustos.
Quis apparatu splendidior fuit
Circus? Ferarum jam series venit:
Quot terra produxit, quot ipse
Phoebe vides, genera aggregantur.
Primo moventur lentius; at gradu
Sensim citato corripiunt viam;
Nec defatigor, dum silenti
Pompa quiescat in Urbe Somni.
V. Whole Duty of Children
A child should always say what's true
And speak when he is spoken to,
And behave mannerly at table;
At least as far as he is able.
A child should always say what's true
And speak when he is spoken to,
And behave mannerly at table;
At least as far as he is able.
De Officiis
Cum pater alloquitur, tunc respondere decebit;
Semper item debet dicere vera puer;
Laudatur qui scit parvus conviva decorem,
Qui sedet urbane--si modo tanta potest!
Cum pater alloquitur, tunc respondere decebit;
Semper item debet dicere vera puer;
Laudatur qui scit parvus conviva decorem,
Qui sedet urbane--si modo tanta potest!
VI. Rain
The rain is raining all around,
It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.
The rain is raining all around,
It falls on field and tree,
It rains on the umbrellas here,
And on the ships at sea.
Britannia Felix
Jam campi pluviis madent;
Imber frugiferas saevit in arbores;
Hic umbracula desuper,
Ventoso in pelago naviculas petit.
Jam campi pluviis madent;
Imber frugiferas saevit in arbores;
Hic umbracula desuper,
Ventoso in pelago naviculas petit.
VII. Pirate Story
Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,
Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea.
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,
And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.
Where shall we adventure, to-day that we're afloat,
Wary of the weather and steering by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,
To Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?
Hi! but here's a squadron a-rowing on the sea--
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be,
The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.
Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,
Three of us aboard in the basket on the lea.
Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,
And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea.
Where shall we adventure, to-day that we're afloat,
Wary of the weather and steering by a star?
Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,
To Providence, or Babylon, or off to Malabar?
Hi! but here's a squadron a-rowing on the sea--
Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar!
Quick, and we'll escape them, they're as mad as they can be,
The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore.
Pirata Communis Hostis Omnium
Fluctus ut in ponto, tranantibus aethera ventis
Vere novo, in pratis herba agitata tremit;
Tres sumus in cophino; tres carbasa pandimus auris;
Viminea it remis concita cymba tribus.
Quem portum petimus, ventorum provida pubes,
Stellae qua monstrant flectere docta ratem?
Laudabunt alii claram Rhodon aut Babylona;
Sunt quibus Aegyptus Taprobaneque placent.
Hei mihi! per fluctus nos jam petit hostica classis;
In pratis viden' ut plurima vacca ruit?
Concurrunt armenta; furit mugitibus aether;
Hortus erit litus; portaque portus erit.
Fluctus ut in ponto, tranantibus aethera ventis
Vere novo, in pratis herba agitata tremit;
Tres sumus in cophino; tres carbasa pandimus auris;
Viminea it remis concita cymba tribus.
Quem portum petimus, ventorum provida pubes,
Stellae qua monstrant flectere docta ratem?
Laudabunt alii claram Rhodon aut Babylona;
Sunt quibus Aegyptus Taprobaneque placent.
Hei mihi! per fluctus nos jam petit hostica classis;
In pratis viden' ut plurima vacca ruit?
Concurrunt armenta; furit mugitibus aether;
Hortus erit litus; portaque portus erit.
VIII. Foreign Lands
Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me.
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
I saw the next door garden lie,
Adorned with flowers, before my eye,
And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.
I saw the dimpling river pass
And be the sky's blue looking-glass;
The dusty roads go up and down
With people tramping in to town.
If I could find a higher tree
Farther and farther I should see,
To where the grown-up river slips
Into the sea among the ships,
To where the roads on either hand
Lead onward into fairy land,
Where all the children dine at five,
And all the playthings come alive.
Up into the cherry tree
Who should climb but little me.
I held the trunk with both my hands
And looked abroad on foreign lands.
I saw the next door garden lie,
Adorned with flowers, before my eye,
And many pleasant places more
That I had never seen before.
I saw the dimpling river pass
And be the sky's blue looking-glass;
The dusty roads go up and down
With people tramping in to town.
If I could find a higher tree
Farther and farther I should see,
To where the grown-up river slips
Into the sea among the ships,
To where the roads on either hand
Lead onward into fairy land,
Where all the children dine at five,
And all the playthings come alive.
Semper Aves Quod Abest
In cerasum enitor manibus puerilibus altam,
Et terra ante oculos mox peregrina patet;
Vicini intueor splendentem floribus hortum,
Et loca jam primum dulcia multa lego.
Caeruleum hic caelo speculum dat rivus; et urbem
Illic turba via pulverulenta petit.
Altius eniti si possem, plura viderem,
Flumine ubi in pontum plurima cymba natat,
Qua patriam nymphae repetunt, pupaeque loquunttur,
Et pueris Phoebo cena cadente datur.
In cerasum enitor manibus puerilibus altam,
Et terra ante oculos mox peregrina patet;
Vicini intueor splendentem floribus hortum,
Et loca jam primum dulcia multa lego.
Caeruleum hic caelo speculum dat rivus; et urbem
Illic turba via pulverulenta petit.
Altius eniti si possem, plura viderem,
Flumine ubi in pontum plurima cymba natat,
Qua patriam nymphae repetunt, pupaeque loquunttur,
Et pueris Phoebo cena cadente datur.
IX. Windy Nights
Whenever the moon and stars are set,
Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by.
Late in the night when the fires are out,
Why does he gallop and gallop about?
Whenever the trees are crying aloud,
And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud,
By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.
Whenever the moon and stars are set,
Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by.
Late in the night when the fires are out,
Why does he gallop and gallop about?
Whenever the trees are crying aloud,
And ships are tossed at sea,
By, on the highway, low and loud,
By at the gallop goes he.
By at the gallop he goes, and then
By he comes back at the gallop again.
Audis quo strepitu
Stellae recedunt, lunaque conditur
Strepitque ventus; sed sonipes ruit;
Quae cura nocturnum per imbres
Post equitem sedet ut feratur?
Jam silva ramos jactat; et in mari
Navis laborat; nocte sed in vias
Evectus ille auditur, inde
Quadrupedante sono revectus.
Stellae recedunt, lunaque conditur
Strepitque ventus; sed sonipes ruit;
Quae cura nocturnum per imbres
Post equitem sedet ut feratur?
Jam silva ramos jactat; et in mari
Navis laborat; nocte sed in vias
Evectus ille auditur, inde
Quadrupedante sono revectus.
X. Travel
I should like to rise and go
Where the golden apples grow;--
Where below another sky
Parrot islands anchored lie,
And, watched by cockatoos and goats,
Lonely Crusoes building boats;--
Where in sunshine reaching out
Eastern cities, miles about,
Are with mosque and minaret
Among sandy gardens set,
And the rich goods from near and far
Hang for sale in the bazaar;--
Where the Great Wall round China goes,
And on one side the desert blows,
And with bell and voice and drum,
Cities on the other hum;--
Where are forests, hot as fire,
Wide as England, tall as a spire,
Full of apes and cocoa-nuts
And the negro hunters' huts;--
Where the knotty crocodile
Lies and blinks in the Nile,
And the red flamingo flies
Hunting fish before his eyes;--
Where, in jungles, near and far,
Man-devouring tigers are,
Lying close and giving ear
Lest the hunt be drawing near,
Or a comer-by be seen
Swinging in a palanquin;--
Where among the desert sands
Some deserted city stands,
All its children, sweep and prince,
Grown to manhood ages since,
Not a foot in street or house,
Not a stir of child or mouse,
And when kindly falls the night,
In all the town no spark of light,
There I'll come when I'm a man
with a camel caravan;
Light a fire in the gloom
Of some dusty dining room;
See the pictures on the walls,
Heroes, fights and festivals;
And in a corner find the toys
Of the old Egyptian boys.
I should like to rise and go
Where the golden apples grow;--
Where below another sky
Parrot islands anchored lie,
And, watched by cockatoos and goats,
Lonely Crusoes building boats;--
Where in sunshine reaching out
Eastern cities, miles about,
Are with mosque and minaret
Among sandy gardens set,
And the rich goods from near and far
Hang for sale in the bazaar;--
Where the Great Wall round China goes,
And on one side the desert blows,
And with bell and voice and drum,
Cities on the other hum;--
Where are forests, hot as fire,
Wide as England, tall as a spire,
Full of apes and cocoa-nuts
And the negro hunters' huts;--
Where the knotty crocodile
Lies and blinks in the Nile,
And the red flamingo flies
Hunting fish before his eyes;--
Where, in jungles, near and far,
Man-devouring tigers are,
Lying close and giving ear
Lest the hunt be drawing near,
Or a comer-by be seen
Swinging in a palanquin;--
Where among the desert sands
Some deserted city stands,
All its children, sweep and prince,
Grown to manhood ages since,
Not a foot in street or house,
Not a stir of child or mouse,
And when kindly falls the night,
In all the town no spark of light,
There I'll come when I'm a man
with a camel caravan;
Light a fire in the gloom
Of some dusty dining room;
See the pictures on the walls,
Heroes, fights and festivals;
And in a corner find the toys
Of the old Egyptian boys.
Litoris Assyrii Viator
O si remotas Hesperidum insulas
Fortuna vellet visere me, nitet
Qua ramus et pomis et auro,
Psittacus et comitante capra
Spectat phaselon dum sibi naufragus
Dolat. Nec urbes laetus omitterem,
Quascumque arenosis in hortis
Turribus egregias decoris
Celsisque templis Sol oriens videt;
Mercator illuc litore ab ultimo
Portare telas belluatas
Gaudet Achaemeniosque nardos.
Visamque murum quo fera dividunt
Deserta tutis Seres ab oppidis,
Aerisque tinnitus cientur,
Fervet opus resonatque vicus.
Interminatas mox siluas petam
Aestu calentes, simia qua casas
Despectat Afrorum, feritque
Palma polum nucibusque abundat,
Piscesque captat Niliacos avis,
Cui praestat alis nulla rubentibus,
Nodosus in ripa quiescit
Interea crocodilus atra.
Junceta visam quae repetit tigris,
Notas latebras, ne prior occupet
Caterva venatrix, tribulis
Ulta necem misere vorati,
Neu quis viator, quem vehit ardua
Lectica, vitet. Visam ego quae jacet
Urbs inter ardentes arenas
Orba suis; periere reges;
Jamdudum inanis stat domus ac via,
Nec mus nec infans conspicitur puer;
Nox alma descendit, nec illic
Taeda micat neque lampas ardet.
Virile robur cum dederit dies,
Ibo camelis non sine plurimis,
Et luce flammarum corusca,
Pulvereas vagus inter aulas,
Pompas virorum pictaque praelia
Visam, remoto forte sub angulo
Pupam reperturus relictam
Delicias pueri Saitae.
O si remotas Hesperidum insulas
Fortuna vellet visere me, nitet
Qua ramus et pomis et auro,
Psittacus et comitante capra
Spectat phaselon dum sibi naufragus
Dolat. Nec urbes laetus omitterem,
Quascumque arenosis in hortis
Turribus egregias decoris
Celsisque templis Sol oriens videt;
Mercator illuc litore ab ultimo
Portare telas belluatas
Gaudet Achaemeniosque nardos.
Visamque murum quo fera dividunt
Deserta tutis Seres ab oppidis,
Aerisque tinnitus cientur,
Fervet opus resonatque vicus.
Interminatas mox siluas petam
Aestu calentes, simia qua casas
Despectat Afrorum, feritque
Palma polum nucibusque abundat,
Piscesque captat Niliacos avis,
Cui praestat alis nulla rubentibus,
Nodosus in ripa quiescit
Interea crocodilus atra.
Junceta visam quae repetit tigris,
Notas latebras, ne prior occupet
Caterva venatrix, tribulis
Ulta necem misere vorati,
Neu quis viator, quem vehit ardua
Lectica, vitet. Visam ego quae jacet
Urbs inter ardentes arenas
Orba suis; periere reges;
Jamdudum inanis stat domus ac via,
Nec mus nec infans conspicitur puer;
Nox alma descendit, nec illic
Taeda micat neque lampas ardet.
Virile robur cum dederit dies,
Ibo camelis non sine plurimis,
Et luce flammarum corusca,
Pulvereas vagus inter aulas,
Pompas virorum pictaque praelia
Visam, remoto forte sub angulo
Pupam reperturus relictam
Delicias pueri Saitae.