How, with empurpled cheeks and pam- In the pines pointing heavenward her beauty austere; pered eyes, Dare they confront the lean austerities 5 In the flower-besprent meadows his genius Of Brethren who, here fixed, on Jesu wait we trace Turned to humbler delights, in which youth might confide, That would yield him fit help while prefiguring that Place In sackcloth, and God's anger deprecate Through all that humbles flesh and mortifies? 15 Strange contrast !-verily the world of Where, if Sin had not entered, Love never 35 2 See for the two first lines, “Stanzas composed When the Being of Beings shall summon in the Simplon Pass," p. 345. her hence. AT FLORENCE. FROM MICHAEL ANGELO1. RAPT above earth by power of one fair face, Hers in whose sway alone my heart delights, I mingle with the blest on those pure heights Where Man, yet mortal, rarely finds a place. With Him who made the Work that Work accords 5 So well, that by its help and through His grace I raise my thoughts, inform my deeds and words, Clasping her beauty in my soul's embrace. Thus, if from two fair eyes mine cannot turn, I feel how in their presence doth abide 10 And, kindling at their lustre, if I burn, THE Baptist might have been ordained to That through the realms of glory shines cry Forth from the towers of that huge Pile, wherein for aye. 1 This and the following Sonnet may possibly His Father served Jehovah; but how have been two of the fifteen Sonnets which in win Due audience, how for aught but scorn defy 1805 Wordsworth essayed to translate from the Italian of Michael Angelo. A rough draft of No. XXII. is given by Mr. Dykes Campbell from a noteThe obstinate pride and wanton revelry 5 Poetical Works, p. 474. Mr. Campbell, unfortubook belonging to S. T. Coleridge. See Coleridge's Of the Jerusalem below, her sin And folly, if they with united din nately, does not give the date of the entry, or of the note-book.-ED. My fault, nor hear it with Thy sacred So fare they-the Man serving as her Wash with Thy blood my sins; thereto Both pass into new being,-but the Worm, incline More readily the more my years require Help, and forgiveness speedy and entire. XXIII. AMONG THE RUINS OF A CONVENT YE Trees! whose slender roots entwine Whose infant arms enclasp the shrine In that announcement, greeting seemed to mock For victories there won by flower-crowned Spring, Chant in full choir their innocent Te Deum. XXVIII. THE PILLAR OF TRAJAN. [Composed 1825.-Published 1827 1.] WHERE towers are crushed, and unfor bidden weeds O'er mutilated arches shed their seeds; And temples, doomed to milder change, unfold A new magnificence that vies with old; Firm in its pristine majesty hath stood 5 A votive Column, spared by fire and flood:: And, though the passions of man's fretful race Have never ceased to eddy round its base, Parting; the casual word had power to Not injured more by touch of meddling reach Borne by the Muse from rills in shep- None bleed, and none lie prostrate but Murmuring but one smooth story for all In every Roman, through all turns of Spirit in him pre-eminent, who guides, Supports, adorns, and over all presides; Distinguished only by inherent state From honoured Instruments that round him wait; Rise as he may, his grandeur scorns the test 55 Of outward symbol, nor will deign to rest On aught by which another is deprest. In the delight of moral prudence schooled, Still are we present with the imperial To hoof and finger mailed;-yet, high or Becomes with all her years a vision of the low, Mind. |