Much did it taunt the humble Light Man and Maidens wheel, And their music's a prey which they seize; They dance not for me, Yet mine is their glee! Thus pleasure is spread through the earth In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find; Thus a rich loving-kindness, redundantly kind, Moves all nature to gladness and mirth. That now, when day was fled, and night Hushed the dark earth, fast closing weary eyes, A very reptile could presume To show her taper in the gloom, As if in rivalship with One "Exalted Star!" the Worm replied, Or with a less uneasy lustre shine; But not for this do I aspire To match the spark of local fire, When this in modest guise was said, In the blue depth, like Lucifer Cast headlong to the pit! Fire raged: and, when the spangled floor Of ancient ether was no more, New heavens succeeded, by the dream brought forth: This knowledge, from an Angel's voice A pregnant dream, within whose shadowy bounds And, till life's journey closed, the spot He recognised the earth-born Star, And That which glittered from afar; And (strange to witness !) from the frame Of the ethereal Orb, there came Intelligible sounds. Was to the Pilgrim's soul endeared, Where by that dream he had been cheered Beneath the shady tree. 1818. You call it, "Love lies bleeding," so you may, So drooped Adonis bathed in sanguine dew Of his death-wound, when he from innocent air bower Did press this semblance of unpitied smart His own dejection, downcast Flower! could share With thine, and gave the mournful name which thou wilt ever bear. XXIX. COMPANION TO THE FOREGOING. NEVER enlivened with the liveliest ray Preserves her beauty mid autumnal leaves The old mythologists, more impress'd than we Of this late day by character in tree Or herb, that claimed peculiar sympathy, Or by the silent lapse of fountain clear, Or with the language of the viewless air By bird or beast made vocal, sought a cause To solve the mystery, not in Nature's laws But in Man's fortunes. Hence a thousand tales Sung to the plaintive lyre in Grecian vales. Nor doubt that something of their spirit swayed The fancy-stricken Youth or heart-sick Maid, Who, while each stood companionless and eyed This undeparting Flower in crimson dyed, Thought of a wound which death is slow to cure, A fate that has endured and will endure, And, patience coveting yet passion feeding, Called the dejected Lingerer, Love lies bleeding. XXX. RURAL ILLUSIONS. SYLPH was it? or a Bird more bright A second darted by ;-and lo! Through sunshine flitting from the bough Transient deception! a gay freak Of April's mimicries! Those brilliant strangers, hailed with joy Among the budding trees, Proved last year's leaves, pushed from the spray To frolic on the breeze. Maternal Flora! show thy face, In honour of their Queen. Sporting with the leaves that fall, Withered leaves-one-two-and three- In his wavering parachute. -But the Kitten, how she starts, Crouches, stretches, paws, and darts! and then its fellow First at one, Just as light and just as yellow; There are many now-now oneNow they stop and there are none : What intenseness of desire In her upward eye of fire! With a tiger-leap half way Now she meets the coming prey, Lets it go as fast, and then Has it in her power again : Now she works with three or four, Far beyond in joy of heart. "Tis a pretty baby-treat; Nor, I deem, for me unmeet: Here, for neither Babe nor me, Other play-mate can I see. Of the countless living things, That with stir of feet and wings (In the sun or under shade, Upon bough or grassy blade) And with busy revellings, Chirp and song, and murmurings, Made this orchard's narrow space, And this vale so blithe a place; Multitudes are swept away Never more to breathe the day: Some are sleeping; some in bands Travelled into distant lands; Others slunk to moor and wood, Far from human neighbourhood; And, among the Kinds that keep With us closer fellowship, With us openly abide, All have laid their mirth aside. Where is he that giddy Sprite, Blue-cap, with his colours bright, Who was blest as bird could be, Feeding in the apple-tree; Made such wanton spoil and rout, Turning blossoms inside out; Hung-head pointing towards the ground- Bound himself, and then unbound; Light of heart and light of limb; Lambs, that through the mountains went Frisking, bleating merriment, When the year was in its prime, They are sobered by this time. K |