The Little Girl Lost

In futurity     I prophetic see     That the earth from sleep     (Grave the sentence deep)     Shall arise, and seek     for her Maker meek;     And the desert wild     Become a garden mild.     In the southern clime,     Where the summer's prime     Never fades away,     Lovely Lyca lay.     Seven summers old     Lovely Lyca told.     She had wandered long,     Hearing wild birds' song.     "Sweet sleep, come to me     Underneath this tree;     Do father, mother, weep?     Where can Lyca sleep?     "Lost in desert wild     Is your little child.     How can Lyca sleep     If her mother weep?     "If her heart does ache,     Then let Lyca wake;     If my mother sleep,     Lyca shall not weep.     "Frowning, frowning night,     O'er this desert bright     Let thy moon arise,     While I close my eyes."     Sleeping Lyca lay     While the beasts of prey,     Come from caverns deep,     Viewed the maid asleep.     The kingly lion stood,     And the virgin viewed:     Then he gambolled round     O'er the hallowed ground.     Leopards, tigers, play     Round her as she lay;     While the lion old     Bowed his mane of gold,     And her breast did lick     And upon her neck,     From his eyes of flame,     Ruby tears there came;     While the lioness     Loosed her slender dress,     And naked they conveyed     To caves the sleeping maid.