In his bed the summer sun is sleeping, And the air is murky and cool; The vapours o’er the grass are creeping, Or hanging above the pool; But a timid gleam, Like a half-awake dream, Comes peering and peeping soon; Till dew-drops trickle gay In the spider’s web to play, And swing in his spangled festoon. A soft beam tips the trunks and leaves Of this green silent wood, And presently a net-work weaves, And presently a hood; A net-work and a hood of gold, Spread in many a lovely fold, And many a gleaming band, Silently as minutes, told Into a Lover’s hand. Oh, it is a silent wood In this early summer morning! Even the birds are not half awake, But whisper their chirrups in the brake, Like a prelude of sweet warning. It is as if the placid hours Hung their heads like folded flowers, Or like sweet flowers in bud, Still and happy, smiling and good, As children in a morning dream, Who move not—yet awake they seem, Their close lids gilded by the beam. There is a pretty cottage white, Which also seems asleep, Dreaming in the early light— Its very roof and windows sleep! Each gentle shade that fades away, Before the rays that following creep, Is nothing more than dreaming play— The cottage surely _is_ asleep! What buzzing tickles yon oak-tree’s foot, Bustling and busy, with nought to be seen! There’s something fidgeting at the root, With a foo-fooing sound like a school-boy’s flute, And a rattling like pods of dry bean! See! see! there’s a thing scarce five inches high, With a comical motion and funny bright eye, And a look both roguish and bold— His limbs are all antics—he skips like a flea— His body is brown as the bark of a tree, Mix’d with green streaks and tarnish’d gold! With little legs straddling, He dances about— Pretends to be waddling— Then leaps with a flout At something he sees in the bright quiet air, And in front of the cottage he makes antics rare! He dances, he prances, Gives hiccups and kick-ups, But all without noise is his merriment made; He laughs at the little cot! Threatens the chimney-pot! But soft as a moth, or as light plays with shade.