HIC JACET.

Did you play here, child,

The whole spring through,

And smiled and smiled

And never knew?—

Where the shade is cool

And the grass grows deep,

One that was beautiful

Lies in his sleep.

Ah no, child, never

Will he arise;

The sleep was for ever

That closed his eyes.

And his bed is strewn

Deep underground,

He was tired so soon,

And now sleeps sound.

When the first birds sing

We can hear them, dear,

And in early spring

There are snowdrops here;

For the flowers love him

That lies below,

And ever above him

The daisies grow.

“Shall we look down deep

Where he hides away?

Shall we find him asleep?”

Yes, child, some day.

But his palace gate

Is so hard to see,

We two must wait

For the angel’ s key.