Her right hand, as it lies Across the slender wrist of the left arm Upon her lap reposing, holds-but mark How slackly, for the absent mind permits 55 No firmer grasp a little wild-flower, joined As in a posy, with a few pale ears Of yellowing corn, the same that overtopped That both creates and fixes, in despite Strange contrasts have we in this world of ours! That posture, and the look of filial love 80 Dearly united, might be swept away freak Banished, nor ever, haply, be restored 85 From high Gibraltar to Siberian plains, And in their common birthplace sheltered Thousands, in each variety of tongue it Till they were plucked together; a blue flower 60 Called by the thrifty husbandman a weed; But Ceres, in her garland, might have worn That ornament, unblamed. The floweret, held 90 That Europe knows, would echo this appeal; One above all, a Monk who waits on God A British Painter (eminent for truth In scarcely conscious fingers, was, she In character, and depth of feeling, shown knows, (Her Father told her so) in youth's gay dawn 65 Her Mother's favourite; and the orphan Girl, In her own dawn-a dawn less gay and bright, Loves it, while there in solitary peace She sits, for that departed Mother's sake. -Not from a source less sacred is derived (Surely I do not err) that pensive air 71 Of calm abstraction through the face diffused And the whole person. Words have something told 75 By labours that have touched the hearts of kings, ΙΟΙ And are endeared to simple cottagers)- The appropriate Picture, fresh from Titian's hand, 105 Graced the Refectory: and there, while both Stood with eyes fixed upon that masterpiece, The hoary Father in the Stranger's ear Breathed out these words:-"Here daily do we sit, 109 Thanks given to God for daily bread, and And thinking of my Brethren, dead, dis- And dissolution and decay, the warm And breathing life of flesh, as if already 6 persed, Or changed and changing, I not seldom Clothed with impassive majesty, and gaze Upon this solemn Company unmoved By shock of circumstance, or lapse of years, 115 Until I cannot but believe that theyThey are in truth the Substance, we the Shadows." So spake the mild Jeronymite, his griefs Melting away within him like a dream Ere he had ceased to gaze, perhaps to speak: 120 And I, grown old, but in a happier land, Domestic Portrait! have to verse consigned In thy calm presence those heart-moving words: Words that can soothe, more than they agitate; Whose spirit, like the angel that went down 125 Into Bethesda's pool, with healing virtue Informs the fountain in the human breast Which by the visitation was disturbed. -But why this stealing tear? Companion mute, On thee I look, not sorrowing; fare thee well, 130 My Song's Inspirer, once again farewell1! XLI. THE FOREGOING SUBJECT [Composed 1834.-Published 1835.] AMONG a grave fraternity of Monks, Humbling the body, to exalt the soul; 1 The pile of buildings composing the palace and convent of San Lorenzo, has, in common usage, lost its proper name in that of the Escurial, a village at the foot of the hill upon which the splendid edifice, built by Philip the Second, stands. It need scarcely be added that Wilkie is the painter alluded to. 2 In the class entitled "Musings," in Mr. Southey's Minor Poems, is one upon his own miniature Picture, taken in childhood, and another upon a landscape painted by Gaspar Poussin. It is possible that every word of the above verses, though similar in subject, might have been written had the author been unacquainted with those beautiful effusions of poetic sentiment. But, for his own satisfaction, he must be allowed thus publicly to acknowledge the pleasure those two Poems of his Friend have given him, and the grateful influence they have upon his mind as often as he reads them, or thinks of them. XLII. XLIII. [Composed 1844.-Published 1845.] So fair, so sweet, withal so sensitive, Would that the little Flowers were born to live, UPON SEEING A COLOURED DRAW. ING OF THE BIRD OF PARADISE IN AN ALBUM. [Composed 1835-6.-Published 1837.] Conscious of half the pleasure which they WHO rashly strove thy Image to portray? give; fount ! Thou buoyant minion of the tropic air; How could he think of the live creaturegay With a divinity of colours, drest In all her brightness, from the dancing Are here, and likenesses of many a shell So might he ken how by his sovereign Tossed ashore by restless waves, Or in the diver's grasp fetched up from And even a title higher still, Uphold our Spirits urged to kindred flight pure sight, The Bird of God! whose blessed will 30 On wings that fear no glance of God's No tempest from his breath, their promised rest Seeking with indefatigable quest 40 Above a world that deems itself most wise When most enslaved by gross realities! SONNETS DEDICATED TO LIBERTY AND ORDER. I. COMPOSED AFTER READING A NEWS- [Composed 1831.-Published 1835.] As with one voice; their flinty heart grew With penitential sorrow, and aloft "PEOPLE! your chains are severing link Oh that with aspirations more intense, by link; Soon shall the Rich be levelled down-the Chastised by self-abasement more pro found, ΙΟ This People, once so happy, so renowned Meet them half way." Vain boast! for For liberty, would seek from God defence These, the more Against far heavier ill, the pestilence They thus would rise, must low and lower Of revolution, impiously unbound! sink |