Matthew Arnold — The Neckan

In summer, on the headlands,        &nbspThe Baltic Sea along, Sits Neckan with his harp of gold,        &nbspAnd sings his plaintive song. Green rolls beneath the headlands,        &nbspGreen rolls the Baltic Sea; And there, below the Neckan's feet,        &nbspHis wife and children be. He sings not of the ocean,        &nbspIts shells and roses pale; Of earth, of earth the Neckan sings,        &nbspHe hath no other tale. He sits upon the headlands,        &nbspAnd sings a mournful stave Of all he saw and felt on earth        &nbspFar from the kind sea-wave. Sings how, a knight, he wander'd        &nbspBy castle, field, and town— But earthly knights have harder hearts        &nbspThan the sea-children own. Sings of his earthly bridal—        &nbspPriest, knights, and ladies gay. "—And who art thou," the priest began,        &nbsp"Sir Knight, who wedd'st to-day?"— "—I am no knight," he answered;        &nbsp"From the sea-waves I come."— The knights drew sword, the ladies scream'd,        &nbspThe surpliced priest stood dumb. He sings how from the chapel        &nbspHe vanish'd with his bride, And bore her down to the sea-halls,        &nbspBeneath the salt sea-tide. He sings how she sits weeping        &nbsp'Mid shells that round her lie. "—False Neckan shares my bed," she weeps;        &nbsp"No Christian mate have I."— He sings how through the billows        &nbspHe rose to earth again, And sought a priest to sign the cross,        &nbspThat Neckan Heaven might gain. He sings how, on an evening,        &nbspBeneath the birch-trees cool, He sate and play'd his harp of gold,        &nbspBeside the river-pool. Beside the pool sate Neckan—        &nbspTears fill'd his mild blue eye. On his white mule, across the bridge,        &nbspA cassock'd priest rode by. "—Why sitt'st thou there, O Neckan,        &nbspAnd play'st thy harp of gold? Sooner shall this my staff bear leaves,        &nbspThan thou shalt Heaven behold."— But, lo, the staff, it budded!        &nbspIt green'd, it branch'd, it waved. "—O ruth of God," the priest cried out,        &nbsp"This lost sea-creature saved!" The cassock'd priest rode onwards,        &nbspAnd vanished with his mule; But Neckan in the twilight grey        &nbspWept by the river-pool. He wept: "The earth hath kindness,        &nbspThe sea, the starry poles; Earth, sea, and sky, and God above—        &nbspBut, ah, not human souls!" In summer, on the headlands,        &nbspThe Baltic Sea along, Sits Neckan with his harp of gold,        &nbspAnd sings this plaintive song.