| A. E. Housman (1859–1936). A Shropshire Lad. 1896. | | | | XXI. In summertime on Bredon | | | | Bredon 1 Hill | | | | | | IN summertime on Bredon | | | The bells they sound so clear; | | | Round both the shires they ring them | | | In steeples far and near, | | | A happy noise to hear. | 5 | | | | Here of a Sunday morning | | | My love and I would lie, | | | And see the coloured counties, | | | And hear the larks so high | | | About us in the sky. | 10 | | | | The bells would ring to call her | | | In valleys miles away: | | | ‘Come all to church, good people; | | | Good people, come and pray.’ | | | But here my love would stay. | 15 | | | | And I would turn and answer | | | Among the springing thyme, | | | ‘Oh, peal upon our wedding, | | | And we will hear the chime, | | | And come to church in time.’ | 20 | | | | But when the snows at Christmas | | | On Bredon top were strown, | | | My love rose up so early | | | And stole out unbeknown | | | And went to church alone. | 25 | | | | They tolled the one bell only, | | | Groom there was none to see, | | | The mourners followed after, | | | And so to church went she, | | | And would not wait for me. | 30 | | | | The bells they sound on Bredon, | | | And still the steeples hum. | | | ‘Come all to church, good people,’— | | | Oh, noisy bells, be dumb; | | I hear you, I will come.
Title Note: Pronounced Breedon. | 35 | | | | |
