To the small wooden isle, where, their work to beguile, They from morning to even take whatever is given ; And many a blithe day they have past. In sight of the spires, All alive with the fires Of the sun going down to his rest, In the broad open eye of the solitary sky, They dance, there are three, as jocund as free, While they dance on the calm river's breast. Man and Maidens wheel, They themselves make the reel, And their music 's a prey which they seize It plays not for them, what matter? 't is theirs; And if they had care, it has scattered their cares, While they dance, crying, "Long as ye please." They dance not for me, Yet mine is their glee! Thus pleasure is spread through the earth The showers of the Spring Rouse the birds, and they sing; If the wind do but stir for his proper delight, Each leaf, that and this, his neighbor will kiss ; Each wave, one and t'other, speeds after his brother: They are happy, for that is their right! XXV. 1806. THE PILGRIM'S DREAM; OR, THE STAR AND THE GLOWWORM. A PILGRIM, when the summer day weary way, A lodging begged beneath a castle's roof; Or heath-besprinkled copse might yield, He paced along; and, pensively, Halting beneath a shady tree, Whose moss-grown root might serve for couch or seat, Fixed on a Star his upward eye; Then from the tenant of the sky He turned, and watched, with kindred look, A Glowworm, in a dusky nook, Apparent at his feet. The murmur of a neighboring stream A pregnant dream, within whose shadowy bounds He recognized the earth-born Star, And that which glittered from afar ; And (strange to witness!) from the frame Intelligible sounds. Much did it taunt the humble Light, 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 Who sat a ruler on his throne Erected in the skies. "Exalted Star!" the Worm replied, "But not for this do I aspire To match the spark of local fire, That at my will burns on the dewy lawn, With thy acknowledged glories; - No! What favors do attend me here, When this in modest guise was said, A boding sound for aught but sleep unfit! 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: And all the happy Souls that rode Transfigured through that fresh abode Had heretofore, in humble trust, Shone meekly 'mid their native dust, The Glowworms of the earth! lea: This knowledge, from an Angel's voice Was to the Pilgrim's soul endeared, Where by that dream he had been cheered 1818. XXVI. THE POET AND THE CAGED TURTLEDOVE As often as I murmur here My half-formed melodies, Straight from her osier mansion near I rather think, the gentle Dove As if nor dove nor nightingale If such thy meaning, O forbear, |