POEMS OF SENTIMENT AND REFLECTION. 319 Or sacred wonder, growing with the power whose love, On earth, will be revived, we trust, in heaven.* 1834. XLII. So fair, so sweet, withal so sensitive, Would that the little Flowers were born to live, Conscious of half the pleasure which they give; That to this mountain-daisy's self were known * 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. And what if hence a bold desire should mount So might he ken how by his sovereign aid And were the Sister-power that shines by night So privileged, what a countenance of delight Would through the clouds break forth on human sight! Fond fancies! wheresoe'er shall turn thine eye, On earth, air, ocean, or the starry sky, Converse with Nature in pure sympathy; All vain desires, all lawless wishes quelled, XLIII. UPON SEEING A COLORED DRAWING OF THE BIRD OF PARADISE IN AN ALBUM. WHO rashly strove thy Image to portray? How could he think of the live creature, With a divinity of colors, drest In all her brightness, from the dancing crest The motions that it graces, - and forbear gay To drop his pencil! Flowers of every clime Or in the diver's grasp fetched up from caves Plumes that might catch, but cannot keep, a stain; Resplendent Wanderer! followed with glad eyes Where'er her course; mysterious Bird! To whom, by wondering Fancy stirred, Eastern Islanders have given A holy name, the Bird of Heaven! And even a title higher still, The Bird of God! whose blessed will She seems performing as she flies Over the earth and through the skies Above a world that deems itself most wise 1885. SONNETS DEDICATED TO LIBERTY AND ORDER. I. COMPOSED AFTER READING A NEWSPAPER OF THE DAY. "PEOPLE! your chains are severing link by link; Soon shall the Rich be levelled down, the Poor Meet them half-way." Vain boast! for these, the more They thus would rise, must low and lower sink, 66 |