Caught the far-winding barrier Alps among. In that announcement, greeting seemed to mock Have never ceased to eddy round its base, Parting; the casual word had power to Not injured more by touch of meddling reach My heart, and filled that heart with con flict strong. XXVII. COMPOSED AT RYDAL ON MAY MORNING, 1838. Composed May 1, 1838.-Published: Sonnet-vol. of 1838; vol. of 1842.] Ir with old love of you, dear Hills! I share New love of many a rival image brought From far, forgive the wanderings of my thought: Nor art thou wronged, sweet May! when I compare Thy present birth-morn with thy last, so fair, 5 The woodbine so, with spiral grace, and breathes So rich to me in favours. For my lot To sit and muse, fanned by its dewy air Mingling with thy soft breath! That morning too, Warblers I heard their joy unbosoming 10 Amid the sunny, shadowy, Colosseum; Heard them, unchecked by aught of saddening hue, wreaths. 1 Included among Poems of Sentiment and Reflection in edd. 1827-43. First placed in this Series in ed. 1845. The preceding Sonnet (xxvII.) was included amongst the Miscellaneous Sonnets in the volume of 1842, and first found its present place in ed. 1845.-ED. Borne by the Muse from rills in shep- None bleed, and none lie prostrate but the foe; herds' ears Murmuring but one smooth story for all In every Roman, through all turns years, I gladly commune with the mind and heart 25 Of him who thus survives by classic art, His actions witness, venerate his mien, And study Trajan as by Pliny seen; Behold how fought the Chief whose conquering sword Stretched far as earth might own a single lord; 30 In the delight of moral prudence schooled, How feelingly at home the Sovereign ruled; Best of the good-in pagan faith allied fate, Is Roman dignity inviolate; Rise as he may, his grandeur scorns the test Of outward symbol, nor will deign to rest On aught by which another is deprest. -Alas! that One thus disciplined could toil To enslave whole nations on their nativ soil; So emulous of Macedonian fame, Memorial Pillar! 'mid the wrecks of That, when his age was measured with Time 35 Preserve thy charge with confidence aim, He drooped, 'mid else unclouded victories And turned his eagles back with deep drawn sighs: O weakness of the Great! O folly of Wise! Where now the haughty Empire that was spread With such fond hope? her very speech dead; Yet glorious Art the power of Time defies And Trajan still, through various enter prise, Mounts, in this fine illusion, toward the skies: Still are we present with the imperial Chief, Nor cease to gaze upon the bold Relief Till Rome, to silent marble unconfined, Becomes with all her years a vision of the Mind. The Egyptian Maid; OR, The Romance of the Water Eily. [Composed 1830.-Published 1835.] or the names and persons in the following poem see the "History of the renowned Prince Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table;" for the rest the Author is answerable; only it may be proper to add that the Lotus, with the bust of the Goddess appearing to rise out of the full-blown flower, was suggested by the beautiful work of ancient art, once included among the Townley Marbles, and now in the British Museum. nd took from men her name-THE WATER LILY. Boft was the wind, that landward blew ; And, as the Moon, o'er some dark hill ascendant, ΙΟ Grows from a little edge of light To a full orb, this Pinnace bright Became, as nearer to the coast she drew, re glorious, with spread sail and streaming pendant. pon this winged Shape so fair age Merlin gazed with admiration: er lineaments, thought he, surpass 15 ught that was ever shown in magic glass; as ever built with patient care; at a touch, produced by happiest transformation. ow, though a Mechanist, whose skill names the degenerate grasp of modern science, Have Merlin (and belike the more 20 Ah! what avails that she was fair, Luminous, blithe, and debonair? The storm has stripped her of her leaves; The Lily floats no longer!-She hath perished. Grieve for her, she deserves no less; 55 So like, yet so unlike, a living Creature! No heart had she, no busy brain; Though loved, she could not love again; Though pitied, feel her own distress; Nor aught that troubles us, the fools of Nature. 60 Yet is there cause for gushing tears; Into a cave had Merlin fled "Her course was for the British strand Her freight, it was a Damsel peer less; God reigns above, and Spirits strong May gather to avenge this wrong Done to the Princess, and her Land Which she in duty left, sad but not chee less. "And to Caerleon's loftiest tower Soon will the Knights of Arthr Table A cry of lamentation send; And all will weep who there attend, To grace that Stranger's bridal hour, For whom the sea was made unna gable. "Shame! should a Child of royal line Die through the blindness of malice?" Thus to the Necromancer spake Nina, the Lady of the Lake, A gentle Sorceress, and benign, Who ne'er embittered any good ma chalice. "What boots," continued she, mourn? To expiate thy sin endeavour: From mischief, caused by spells himself Cold as she is, ere life be fled for ever. had muttered; "My pearly Boat, a shining Light, That brought me down that sunl river, Will bear me on from wave to wave And back with her to this sea-cave;Then Merlin! for a rapid flight Through air, to thee my Charge will deliver. "The very swiftest of thy cars Must, when my part is done, be ready Meanwhile, for further guidance, look Into thy own prophetic book; And, if that fail, consult the Stars To learn thy course; farewell! be prom and steady." |