I heard an Angel singing    When the day was springing：    `Mercy， Pity， Peace    Is the world's release.'    Thus he sang all day    Over the new-mown hay，    Till the sun went down，    And haycocks lookèd brown.    I heard a Devil curse    Over the heath and the furze：    `Mercy could be no more    If there was nobody poor，    `And Pity no more could be，    If all were as happy as we.'    At his curse the sun went down，    And the heavens gave a frown.    Down pour'd the heavy rain    Over the new reap'd grain；    And Misery's increase    Is Mercy， Pity， Peace.