Charles Lamb

Here you will find the Poem As when a child... of poet Charles Lamb

As when a child...

As when a child on some long winter's night 
Affrighted clinging to its Grandam's knees 
With eager wond'ring and perturbed delight 
Listens strange tales of fearful dark decrees 
Muttered to wretch by necromantic spell; 
Or of those hags, who at the witching time 
Of murky midnight ride the air sublime, 
And mingle foul embrace with fiends of Hell: 
Cold Horror drinks its blood! Anon the tear 
More gentle starts, to hear the Beldame tell 
Of pretty babes, that loved each other dear, 
Murdered by cruel Uncle's mandate fell: 
Ev'n such the shiv'ring joys thy tones impart, 
Ev'n so thou, Siddons! meltest my sad heart!