English poem
L’envoi
by Charles Godfrey Leland (1824–1903)
O happy sylvan hours and days of yore! O quaint old speech which echoes in our ears! From you we learn our country’s early lore, The forest people’s sorrows, joys and fears. So pass in peace, ye simple woodland race! We may no longer hope to bid you live. In our mad turmoil ye can have no place, But we have taken what ye have to give. P.