I heard an angel singing
When the day was springing:
“Mercy, pity, and peace,
Are the world’s release”.
Thus he sang all day
Over the new-mown hay,
Till the sun went down,
And haycocks looked brown.
I heard a devil curse
Over the heath and the furze:
“Mercy could be no more
If there were nobody poor,
And pity no more could be
If all were happy as ye:
And mutual fear brings peace
Misery’s increase
Are mercy, pity, peace.”
At his curse the sun went down,
And the heavens gave a frown.
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