VII. But thou, O Goddess! in thy favourite Isle (Freedom's impregnable redoubt, The wide earth's storehouse fenced about And a record of commotion 15 20 25 1 "Choral", edd. 1820, 1827; "coral", 18321849.-ED. High as the level of the mountain-tops) A circuit ampler than the lake beneath Their own domain; but ever, while inte On tracing and retracing that large roun Their jubilant activity evolves Hundreds of curves and circlets, to and fi Upward and downward, progress intrica [Composed 1801 (?).-Published Morning Post, Yet unperplexed, as if one spirit swaye February 11, 1802; ed. 1807.] DEAR Child of Nature, let them rail! A harbour and a hold; Where thou, a Wife and Friend, shalt see There, healthy as a shepherd boy, 5 Their indefatigable flight. "Tis doneTen times, or more, I fancied it had cease But lo! the vanished company again Ascending; they approach-I hear the wings, Faint, faint at first; and then an eag sound, Past in a moment-and as faint again! They tempt the sun to sport amid the plumes; They tempt the water, or the gleaming i To show them a fair image; 'tis themselv Their own fair forms, upon the glimm ing plain, Painted more soft and fair as they desce Shall lead thee to thy grave. oding the quarter whence the sun comes forth igantic mountains rough with crags; beneath, fight at the imperial station's western base, In the whole fulness of its bloom, affords Couch beautiful as e'er for earthly use 10 lain ocean, breaking audibly, and Was fashioned; whether by the hand of stretched ar into silent regions blue and pale ;nd visibly engirding Mona's Isle 16 Art, That eastern Sultan, amid flowers enwrought hat, as we left the plain, before our On silken tissue, might diffuse his limbs sight ood like a lofty mount, uplifting slowly bove the convex of the watery globe) to clear view the cultured fields that streak er habitable shores, but now appears dwindled object, and submits to lie 20 In languor; or by Nature, for repose the spectator's feet.-Yon azure ridge, The noon-tide hour: though truly some it a perishable cloud? Or there we behold the line of Erin's coast? 25 and sometimes by the roving shepherdswain ike the bright confines of another world) doubtfully perceived.-Look homeward now! depth, in height, in circuit, how serene espectacle, how pure!-Of Nature's works, 30 earth, and air, and earth-embracing sean revelation infinite it seems; play august of man's inheritance, Britain's calm felicity and power! Sweeps now along this elevated ridge; Not even a zephyr stirs ;-the obnoxious Tree --I sing in vain ;-the pines have hush their waving: A peerless Youth expectant at my side Is mute; and, in his silence, would look Breathless as they, with unabated crav [Composed 1828.-Published 1829 (The Keepsake); -Yielding to this gentle spell, Returned, to seek a Consort upon earth; I will not fetch a Naiad from a flood Nor leaf-crowned Dryad from a pathless wood, ΙΟ Lucida! from domes of pleasure, Where the eagle builds her aery, That Figure, like a ship with snow-wh sail! Nearer she draws; a breeze uplifts veil ; As pure a sunshine and as soft a gale And every motion of his starry train Nor Sea-nymph glistening from her coral Seem governed by a strain bower; Mere Mortals, bodied forth in vision still, Shall with Mount Ida's triple lustre fill The chaster coverts of a British hill. "Appear!-obey my lyre's command! 15 Come, like the Graces, hand in hand! For ye, though not by birth allied, Are Sisters in the bond of love; Nor shall the tongue of envious pride Presume those interweavings to reprove 20 In you, which that fair progeny of Jove Learned from the tuneful spheres that glide In endless union, earth and sea above." Of music, audible to him alone. "O Lady, worthy of earth's proud! throne! Nor less, by excellence of nature, fit Beside an unambitious hearth to sit Domestic queen, where grandeur is known; What living man could fear The worst of Fortune's malice, wert Thi near, Humbling that lily-stem, thy sceptre mee That its fair flowers may from his cheek Brush the too happy tear? Queen, and handmaid lowly! And, as if wishful to disarm Those skill can speed the day with lively Or to repay the potent Charm, 100 90 A face o'er which a thousand shadows go! -She stops-is fastened to that rivulet's d the dear voice of harmony, side; none more deeply felt than Thee!" sang; and lo! from pastimes virginal hastens to the tents nature, and the lonely elements. 95 sparkles round her with a dazzling sheen; t mark her glowing cheek, her vesture green! |