s: But it is the shrill personal abuse of Pope’s deformity and moral


s: The Morals blacken’d when the Writings scape;


s: The libel’d Person, and the pictur’d Shape


s: Pope had already been pictured as a mad dog (p. 7) in _The


s: _Spiteful he is not, tho’ he writ a Satire,


s: For still there goes some Thinking to Ill-Nature._


s: Printed for J. ROBERTS, in _Warwick-Lane_.


s: _The indecent Images, and the frequent and bad Imitations of the


s: With Strains has grac’d thee, humble as thy own;


s: Who (b) _G--l--n_’s Dullness did for thine discard,


s: Tho’ humble, just; well-bred, tho’ paid to Thee.


s: _Parnassian_ Groves, and _Twick’nam_ Fountains, say,


s: What Homage to the Bard shall _Britain_ pay!


s: The Bard! that first, from _Dryden’s_ thrice-glean’d Page,


s: Nor pillag’d only that unrival’d Strain,


s: But rak’d for Couplets * _Chapman_ and _Duck-Lane_,


s: Has sweat each Cent’ry’s Rubbish to explore,


s: And plunder’d every Dunce that writ before,


s: Catching half Lines, till the tun’d Verse went round,


s: Complete, in smooth dull (c) Unity of Sound;


s: Who, stealing Human, scorn’d Celestial Fire,


s: And strung to _Smithfield_ Airs the † _Hebrew_ Lyre;


s: Who taught declining (d) _Wycherley_ to doze


s: O’er wire-drawn Sense, that tinkled in the Close,


s: To mud-born _Naiads_ faithfully unclean;


s: Whose raptur’d Nonsense, with Prophetick Skill,


s: First taught that Ombre, which fore-ran Quadrille;


s: Who from the Skies, propitious to the Fair,


s: Brought down _Cæcilia_, and sent ** _Cloris_ there,


s: Prais’d _Sw----t_ in Earnest, and sung Heav’n in Jest,


s: Here, mov’d by Whim, and there by Envy stung,


s: By _F----n_ left, by Reverend Linguists hated,


s: Now learns to read the _Greek_ he once translated.


s: Oh say, to him what Trophies shall be rais’d,


s: That unprovok’d will strike, and fawn unprais’d!


s: Each fav’rite Toast who marks, or rising Wit,


s: To sketch a Satire, that in Time may fit;


s: Still hopes your Sun-set, while he views your Noon,


s: And still broods o’er the closely-kept Lampoon;


s: The lurking Presents o’er the Tomb he paid,


s: And thus atton’d our _British Virgil_’s Shade,


s: A Mushroom * Satire in his Life conceal’d,


s: Since chang’d to Libel, and in Print reveal’d;


s: Who lets not † Beauty base Detraction ’scape,


s: And mocks Deformity with _Æsop_’s Shape;


s: Who _Cato_’s Muse with faithless Sneers belied,


s: The Prologue father’d, and the Play decried,


s: On ‡ _H----y_’s learned Page, dull-sporting trod,


s: Betray’d his Patrons, and lampoon’d his God;


s: O! how burlesqu’d, great _Dryden_, is thy Strain,


s: When little _Alexander_ ‖ _slays the Slain_!


s: ------Fought all his Battles o’er again;


s: On, mighty Rhimer, haste new Palms to seize,


s: Thy little, envious, angry Genius teize;


s: Let thy weak wilful Head, unrein’d by Art,


s: Obey the Dictates of thy flatt’ring Heart;


s: Smut, Libel, Sing-song, Vanity, and Spleen;


s: With long-brew’d Malice warm thy languid Page,


s: Let bawdy Emblems, now, thy Hours beguile;


s: Now, Fustian Epic, aping _Virgil_’s Stile;


s: To _Virgil_ like, to _Indian_ Clay as _Delf_,


s: Or _Pulteney_, drawn by _Jervase_, to Herself:


s: Rheams heap’d on Rheams, incessant, mayst thou blot,


s: A lively, trifling, pert, one knows not what!


s: Form thy light Measures, nimbler than the Wind,


s: Whilst heavy lingring Sense is left behind;


s: With all thy Might pursue, and all thy Will,


s: That unabating Thirst, to scribble still,


s: Giv’n at thy Birth! the Poetaster’s Gust,


s: Illustrious Fops, mean time, o’er-rate thy Lays,


s: And blooming Critics, as they spell thee, praise:


s: Blest Coupleteer! by blooming Critics read,


s: At Toilets _ogled_, and with Sweetmeats fed:


s: See, lisping Toilers grace thy _Dunciad_’s Cause,


s: And scream their witty Scavenger’s Applause,


s: While powder’d Wits, and lac’d Cabals rehearse


s: Thy bawdy _Cento_, and thy _Bead-roll_ Verse;


s: Gay, bugled Statesmen on thy Side debate,


s: And libel’d Blockheads court thee, tho’ they hate.


s: Fools of all Kinds their Suffrages impart,


s: These in thy threadbare Farce shall Beauties show,


s: Shall praise thy ribald Mirth, and maudlin Woe;


s: Praise ev’n thy imitating _Chaucer_’s Tales,


s: And call that merry * Temple, Fame’s _Versailles_:


s: Thy ‡ Shepherd-Song with Rapture they shall see,


s: Which rivals _Philips_, as _Banks_ rivals _Lee_;


s: Thy † _Guernsey_ and _Barbados_ Wreath shall own,


s: Where _Durfey_ ne’er was read, nor _Settle_ known;


s: That Wreath, that Name, which thro’ both Worlds is gone,


s: Which Doctor (e) _Y----_ applauds, and _Prestor John_.


s: The Prelate! next, exil’d by cruel Fates,


s: Who plagues all Churches, and confounds all States;


s: With Treasons past perplex’d, and present Cares;


s: And here! a Groupe of Brother Quill-men see,


s: Co-witlings all, and Demi-bards like Thee;


s: Such whom the Muse shall pass with just Disdain,


s: But Quack _Arb----t_ shall Oblivion blot,


s: That puzzling, plodding, prating, pedant _Scot_!


s: The grating Scribler! whose untun’d Essays


s: Mix the _Scotch_ Thistle with the _English_ Bays,


s: The Hand prescribing, or the flattering Quill,


s: Who doubly plagues, and boasts two Arts to kill!


s: ’Midst this vain Tribe, that aid thy setting Ray,


s: The Muse shall view, but spare ill-faced _G--y_:


s: Poor (f) _G--y_, who loses most when most he wins.


s: And gives his Foes his Fame, and bears their Sins;


s: Who more by Fortune than by Nature curst,


s: Yields his best Pieces, and must own _Thy_ worst.


s: Thus prop’d, thy Head with _Grub-street_ Zephyrs tainted,


s: _J----!_ who so refin’d a Rake is reckon’d,


s: He breaks all (h) _Sinai_’s Laws, except the Second:


s: Thus prais’d, thus drawn, t’extend thy Projects try,


s: Leave the gay Epithets that Beauty crown,


s: Forget awhile (i) _Belinda_ and the Sun;


s: No more let _Ombre_’s Play inspire thy Vein,


s: Nor strow with Captive Kings the † _Velvet Plain_;


s: Omit awhile the _Silver Peal_ to ring,      }


s: Nor talk dulcissant, nor mellifluous sing,  }


s: Nor _hang suspended_, nor _adherent cling_. }


s: But haste to mount Immortal Envy’s Throne,


s: To crush all Merit, that disputes thy own;


s: For thou wert born to damp each rising Name,


s: And hang, like Mildews, on the Growth of Fame;


s: Fame’s fairest Blossoms let thy Rancour blast,


s: Bane of the modern Laurel, like the past;


s: While stupid Riot stands in Humour’s Place,


s: And all great †† _Wilmot_’s Vice, without his Fire.


s: truly quoted from _P----pe_; and the others in Company with them,


s: At length, when banish’d _Pallas_ shall withdraw,


s: And Wit’s made Treason by the _Popian_ Law;


s: When minor Dunces cease, at length, their Strife,


s: By Tricks sustain’d, in Poet-craft compleat,


s: Retire triumphant to thy _Twick’nam_ Seat;


s: That Seat! the Work of (k) half-paid drudging _Br----me_,


s: And call’d by joking _Tritons_, _Homer_’s Tomb:


s: There to stale, stol’n, stum Crambo bid adieu,


s: And sneer the Fops, that thought thy Crambo new;


s: There, like the _Grecian_ Chief, on whom thy Song


s: Has well reveng’d unhappy _Priam_’s Wrong;


s: Waste, in thy hidden Cave, the Festive Day,


s: With mock _Machaon_, and _Patroclus G----_


s: _Sleep_, (l) _Sleep in Peace_ the Works, for _Wapping_ born!


s: No more thy Cuckoo Note shall wake the Morn;


s: In Ease, and Avarice, and aukward State,


s: _The Fool of Fortune_, shalt thou hail thy Fate;


s: Slumbring in Quiet o’er Lampoons half writ,


s: Which, ripe in Malice, only wait for Wit.


s: So when _Vanessa_ yielded up her Charms,


s: The blest _Cadenus_ languish’d in her Arms;


s: High, on a Peg, his unbrush’d Beaver hung,


s: His Vest unbutton’d, and his God unsung;


s: Raptur’d he lies; Deans, Authors are forgot,


s: _Wood_’s Copper Pence, and _Atterbury_’s Plot;


s: For her he quits the Tythes of _Patrick_’s Fields,


s: Read _Homer_ once, and you need read no more;


s: For all Things else will be so mean and poor,


s: Verse will seem Prose: Yet often on him look,


s: ’Tis great Delight to laugh at some Mens Ways;


s: But ’tis much greater to give Merit Praise.


s: _Sheffield_ approves, consenting _Phœbus_ bends,


s: And I and Malice from this Hour, am Friends.


s: I’ll bound, I’ll spring, I’ll strike the weaken’d Pole,


s: I’ll knock so hard, I’ll knock thro’ it a Hole.


s: (i) _Forget awhile _Belinda_ and the Sun._


s: Here, like the Sun, _Belinda_ strikes the Swain,


s: In the same Page like the same Sun again.


s: And in the End he compares your Majesty to the Sun.


s: _So when bright _Venus_ yielded up her Charms,


s: The blest _Adonis_ languish’d in her Arms;


s: His Arrows scatter’d, and his Bow unstrung;


s: Obscure in Covert lay his dreaming Hounds,


s: And bay’d the fancy’d Boar with feeble Sounds:


s: For nobler Sports he quits the savage Fields,


s: What is that Blatant-Beast? Then he reply’d.


s: Then answered he, which often hath annoy’d


s: Good Knights and Ladies true, and many else destroy’d.


s: SPENCER’s Fairy Queen, Book VI. Canto I.


s: Can Censure ’scape: Back-wounding Calumny


s: The whitest Virtue strikes. What King so strong,


s: Can tye the Gall up in sland’rous Tongue?


s: Printed for J. ROBINSON, at the _Golden Lyon_


s: Beauty, the fondling Mother’s earliest Pray’r,


s: Nature’s kind Gift to sweeten worldly Care.


s: Steals thro’ our Eyes, and revels in our Hearts;


s: Adds Lustre to a Crown, gives Weight to Sense,


s: The very Fool our Hearts resistless warms,


s: And while we curse the Tongue, the Figure charms.


s: A rude, mishapen Lump Contempt must raise.


s: When _Lucifer_ with Angels held first Place,


s: Vengeance pursu’d him to the lowest Hell:


s: Not sulph’rous Lakes suffic’d, nor dreary Plains;


s: Deformity was join’d t’ improve his Pains.


s: Paint then the Person, and expose the Mind,


s: Who rails at others, to his own Faults blind.


s: Sly _Sancho_’s Paunch, meagre _Don Quixot_’s Love,


s: So when fam’d _Butler_ wou’d Rebellion paint,


s: He lasht the Traitor and the Mimic Saint.


s: Sir _Hudibras_ he sung; the crumpled Wight,


s: The Blatant-Beast once more has broke his Chains,


s: Disperses Falshoods, and remorseless reigns.


s: (Where useless Epithets crowd ev’ry Line,)


s: The Blatant-Beast shall be afresh pursu’d,


s: Nor cease my Labours till again subdu’d.


s: Thy Mind envenom’d pictur’d in thy Face;


s: Malice with Envy in thy Breast combines,


s: And in thy Visage grav’d those ghastly Lines.


s: Like Plagues, like Death thy ranc’rous Arrows fly,


s: To thy own Breast recoils the erring Dart,


s: Corrupts thy Blood, and rankles in thy Heart.


s: There swell the Poisons which thy Breast distend,


s: And with the Load thy Mountain Shoulders bend.


s: Horrid to view! retire from human Sight,


s: Nor with thy Figure pregnant Dames affright.


s: Crawl thro’ thy childish Grot, growl round thy Grove,


s: In Curses waste thy Time instead of Pray’r,


s: (a) And with thy Breath pollute the fragrant Air.


s: There doze o’er _Shakespear_; then thy Blunders fell


s: (b) At mighty Price; this Truth let _Tonson_ tell.


s: Then frontless intimate, (oh perjur’d Bard!)


s: Thy Labours were bestow’d without Reward.


s: On that immortal Author wreak thy Spite,


s: (c) And on his Monument thy Nonsense write.


s: Should _Theobald_ thy presumptuous Errors shew,


s: Be thou to _Theobald_ an invet’rate Foe.


s: _Cibber_ shall foremost in thy Satyrs stand;


s: His Plays succeed, and thine was justly damn’d.


s: But _Colley_ call him, when thou would’st declame;


s: Great is the Jest that lies in _Colley_’s Name.


s: manner who abuses all others, and to make this just Reflexion,


s: since in his new _Dunciad_ he not only calls _Mummius_ a Fool,


s: but uses this filthy Expression--who stinks above the Ground.]


s: Beware all ye, whom he as Friends carest,


s: How ye entrust your Secrets to his Breast.


s: (a) On Backs of Letters was his _Homer_ wrote,


s: All your Affairs disclos’d to save a Groat.


s: He sav’d his Paper, tho’ at your Expence.


s: their Emendations, it was written on the Back of the Letters of


s: his Correspondents, whether of Business, Complement or Secrecy.


s: A shameful Instance of Avarice and Treachery!]


s: But shall a low-born Wretch the best traduce,


s: The Heav’n-born Muse, by Truth and Justice sway’d,


s: To false Aspersions ne’er vouchsafes her Aid.


s: When unprovok’d, not vengeful Wasps molest,


s: Nor dart their Stings, when undisturb’d their Nest.


s: Thy Muse, by _Virgil_’s Harpies taught to write,


s: Scatters her Ordure in her screaming Flight;


s: Sacred Religion and her Priests defames,


s: (a) The Fathers, of our Church the surest Guides,


s: But chief O _Cam!_ and _Isis!_ dread her Frown,


s: (b) Chain’d to the Footstool of the Goddess’ Throne.


s: And dull, and dull, and dull swells ev’ry Page.


s: Thirsty, she Poison draws from ev’ry Flow’r,


s: Like Satan, seeks whom next she may devour.


s: He bites, he snaps at all, disgorging Foam.


s: The frighten’d Passenger the Danger flies,


s: And sees the Poison flashing from his Eyes.


s: Till some stout Dray-man dashes out his Brains,


s: And his corrupted Blood the Kennel stains.


s: Thy Notes pedantic shall no more engage;


s: _Arbuthnot_’s Wit enlivens not the Page.


s: Thy Muse, that Prostitute abandon’d Jade,


s: Now flounders in the Mire without _Swift_’s Aid.


s: With just Disdain thy Scare-Crow Muse is heard.


s: So when the latent Seeds their Fruits display,


s: And gain fresh Vigour from a genial Ray:


s: The careful Hind a monst’rous Figure frames;


s: From various Rags unwonted Terror streams.


s: The feather’d Choristers in Flocks retreat,


s: And at a Distance view the tempting Bait.


s: At length grown bold, they perch upon his Head,


s: And with their Meute bedawb what late they fled.


s: _B-ns-n_ abuse for raising _Milton_’s Bust,


s: And impiously molest learn’d _Johnston_’s Dust.


s: Religious, he the Psalms in _Latin_ sung,


s: From hence the Malice of the Deist sprung.


s: Thy wretched Epitaph on poor _John Gay_.


s: Had _Peter_, _Charters_ thee with Gold supply’d,


s: _Peter_ and _Charters_ had been deify’d.


s: But ev’ry Lord, each gen’rous Friend implore,


s: And by Subscriptions meanly swell thy Store.


s: When to the Town by sordid Int’rest led,


s: Then to thy Grot retire, indulge thy Spite,


s: And rail at those who for Subsistence write.


s: Summon thy Rags, invoke thy scurril Muse,


s: Sculking, the Scandal privately disperse,


s: Insidiously she weaves her glewy Snares.


s: Sullen, she meditates on Deaths to come,


s: (b) Should hapless _Clarion_ thither take his Flight,


s: He falls her Prey, mindful of ancient Spite.


s: With Malice swoll’n, Pride, Envy, Avarice,


s: Yet one remains untold; with Lust endu’d,


s: Kind _Cibber_ interpos’d, forbad the Banns,


s: He’d peopled else this Isle with _Calibans_.


s: (a) The noble _Timon_, in thy waspish Strains,


s: Subject of others Praise, to thee of Pain.


s: He smiles at Scandal so unjustly thrown,


s: Thus oft we see a currish, Mungrel Crew,


s: They swarm around, they yelp, they snarl, they grin,


s: With such mean Foes he deigns not to engage,


s: But lifts his Leg, and pisses out their Rage.


s: How dar’st thou, Peasant, give thy Pen this Loose?


s: Alike are grown thy Subject of Disgrace.


s: Safe in thy Weakness, thou defi’st a Foe;


s: E’en (b) _Cibber_’s Cudgel scorn’d to stoop so low.


s: The Mercy of the Law restrains thy Fears;


s: _Coventry_’s Act secures thy Nose and Ears.


s: Yet there remains, to fill thy Soul with Care,


s: O wretched Life consum’d in restless Pains,


s: Where Dread of Punishment incessant reigns!


s: Poor Self-Tormentor! in whose gloomy Breast


s: Than a malignant Heart and envious Mind.


s: Thrice happy he! that’s with Good Nature blest,


s: Love of his Species rules his tender Breast;


s: Nor there confin’d: The Brute Creation share


s: No base malicious Thoughts his Peace annoy:


s: Are others happy? he partakes their Joy.


s: Chearful and innocent the Day he spends,


s: And Silver Sleep his quiet Nights attends.


s: But thou, a Stranger to this Peace of Mind,


s: Search where thou may’st conspicuous Merit find:


s: There strive to blacken with thy utmost Art,


s: And rail the more, the greater the Desert.


s: By Vice untainted; who, from early Youth,


s: Firmly adher’d to Honour, Justice, Truth;


s: Whom no unruly Passions e’re cou’d blind,


s: His Country’s Good, the Patriot’s noblest View,


s: Unbrib’d, unaw’d, does stedfastly pursue;


s: Polite in Manners, and rever’d his Sense,


s: And long in Senates fam’d for Eloquence;


s: Then flows thy Gall, then raves thy half-form’d Clay,


s: So when the croaking Toad the Ox beheld,


s: His envious Heart with Indignation swell’d.


s: Vainly the Reptil thought he could extend


s: His bloated Form, and Nature’s Error mend.


s: He drew his Breath; he swell’d--he burst; he dy’d


s: Oh, thou surpassing beauty! that dost live


s: Shrined in yon silent stream of glorious light!


s: Spirit of harmony! that through the vast


s: And cloud-embroidered canopy art spreading


s: Thy wings, that o'er our shadowy earth hang brooding,


s: Like a pale silver haze, betwixt the moon


s: And the world's darker orb: beautiful, hail!


s: Hail to thee! from her midnight throne of ether,


s: Night looks upon the slumbering universe.


s: There is no breeze on silver-crowned tree,


s: There is no breath on dew-bespangled flower,


s: There is no wind sighs on the sleepy wave,


s: There is no sound hangs in the solemn air.


s: All, all are silent, all are dreaming, all,


s: Save those eternal eyes, that now shine forth


s: Winking the slumberer's destinies.  The moon


s: Sails on the horizon's verge, a moving glory,


s: That lives around her; save yon little star,


s: That sparkles on her robe of fleecy clouds,


s: Like a bright gem, fallen from her radiant brow.


s: Time beckons on the hours: the expiring year


s: As with cold hands, he scatters on her bier


s: As fleetly as the Summer's sunshine past,


s: The Winter's snow must melt; and the young Spring,


s: Strewing the earth with flowers, will come at last,


s: And in her train the hour of parting bring.


s: But, though I leave the harbour, where my heart


s: Sometime had found a peaceful resting-place,


s: Where it lay calmly moored; though I depart,


s: Yet, let not time my memory quite efface.


s: 'Tis true, I leave no void, the happy home


s: To which you welcomed me, will be as gay,


s: As bright, as cheerful, when I've turned to roam,


s: Once more, upon life's weary onward way.


s: But oh! if ever by the warm hearth's blaze,


s: Where beaming eyes and kindred souls are met,


s: Then, while before you glides time's shadowy train,


s: Of forms long vanished, days and hours long gone,


s: Perchance my name will be pronounced again,


s: In that dear circle where I once was one.


s: Think of me then, nor break kind memory's spell,


s: By reason's censure coldly o'er me cast,


s: Think only, that I loved ye passing well!


s: And let my follies slumber with the past.


s: Night comes upon the earth; and fearfully


s: In the full chorus of their midnight song.


s: The waste of heavy clouds, that veil the sky,


s: Roll like a murky scroll before them driven,


s: And show faint glimpses of a darker heaven.


s: No ray is there of moon, or pale-eyed star,


s: The western sky lies glimmering, faint and far,


s: With day's red embers dimly glowing there.


s: Hark! how the wind comes gathering in its course,


s: And sweeping onward, with resistless force,


s: Howls through the silent space of starless skies,


s: And on the breast of the swol'n ocean dies.


s: Oh, though art terrible, thou viewless power!


s: That rid'st destroying at the midnight hour!


s: Thy viewless wings, as thou careerest o'er


s: This rocking world; that in the boundless sky


s: Suspended, vibrates, as thou rushest by.


s: There is no terror in the lightning's glare,


s: That breaks its red track through the trackless air;


s: There is no terror in the voice that speaks


s: From out the clouds when the loud thunder breaks


s: Over the earth, like that which dwells in thee,


s: 'Tis only the nightingale's warbled strain,


s: With his note of love, he replies again,


s: Warm o'er the waters the red sun is glowing,


s: 'Tis the last parting glance of his splendour and might,


s: While each rippling wave on the bright shore is throwing


s: Its white crest, that breaks into showers of light.


s: On the dark blue mountains his smile is bright,


s: It glows on the orange grove's waving height,


s: And breaks through its shade in long lines of light.


s: No sound on the earth, and no sound in the sky,


s: Save murmuring fountains that sparkle nigh,


s: And the rustling flight of the evening breeze,


s: Who steals from his nest in the cypress trees,


s: As he shakes their white buds from his gossamer wing,


s: And flutters away through the spicy air,


s: That clasps thy shore, and the soft evening gale


s: Breathes from thy coast, and fills my parting sail.


s: Ere morning dawn, a colder breeze will come,


s: That home, where the pale sun is not so bright,


s: So glorious, at his noonday's fiercest height,


s: As when he throws his last glance o'er the sea,


s: And fires the heavens, that glow farewell on thee.


s: Meantime, farewell!  I sorrow, as I leave


s: Thy lovely shore behind me, as men grieve


s: When bending o'er a form, around whose charms,


s: Unconquered yet, Death winds his icy arms:


s: While leaving the last kiss on some dear cheek,


s: Where beauty sheds her last autumnal streak,


s: Life's rosy flower just mantling into bloom,


s: So I leave thee, oh! thou art lovely still!


s: That gather thickly round thy fading form:


s: Still glow thy glorious skies, as bright and warm,


s: Still memory lingers fondly on thy strand,


s: And Genius hails thee still her native land.


s: Land of my soul's adoption! o'er the sea,


s: Fainter and fainter, from my gaze it dies,


s: 'Till like a line of distant light it lies,


s: A melting boundary 'twixt earth and sky,


s: And now 'tis gone;--farewell, fair Italy!


s: Rest, warrior, rest! thine hour is past,--


s: Rest, warrior, rest! thine hour is past,


s: Though sweet, yet fearful are their rays;


s: Yet once again, but once, before we sever,


s: Fill we one brimming cup,--it is the last!


s: And let those lips, now parting, and for ever,


s: Breathe o'er this pledge, "the memory of the past!"


s: Joy's fleeting sun is set; and no to-morrow


s: Smiles on the gloomy path we tread so fast,


s: Yet, in the bitter cup, o'erfilled with sorrow,


s: Lives one sweet drop,--the memory of the past.


s: But one more look from those dear eyes, now shining


s: Through their warm tears, their loveliest and their last;


s: But one more strain of hands, in friendship twining,


s: Now farewell all, save memory of the past.


s: The stranger's arm hath seized thy brand,


s: Thou art bowed beneath the stranger's hand,


s: And the stranger thy birthright hath taken.


s: It hath fallen on thee, on thy dwelling-place,


s: And that heaven-stamped sign to a foul disgrace


s: Homeless and scattered, thy race is cast


s: Like chaff in the breath of the sweeping blast,


s: Live like the gorgeous western light that shone


s: Over the clouds where sank day's majesty.


s: Let me not be forgotten! though the grave


s: Has clasped its hideous arms around my brow.


s: Let me not be forgotten! though the wave


s: Of time's dark current rolls above me now.


s: Weep over those ye loved; for me, for me,


s: Give me the wreath of glory, and let fame


s: The moment must come, when the hands that unite


s: In the firm clasp of friendship, will sever;


s: When the eyes that have beamed o'er us brightly to-night,


s: Will have ceased to shine o'er us, for ever.


s: The moment is come, and again we are parting,


s: To roam through the world, each our separate way;


s: In the bright eye of beauty the pearl-drop is starting,


s: But hope, sunny hope, through the tear sheds its ray.


s: The moment is past, and the bright throng that round us


s: So lately was gathered, has fled like a dream;


s: And time has untwisted the fond links that bound us,


s: Like frost wreaths that melt in the morning's first beam.


s: Still wreathe once more the goblet's brim!


s: Hadst been the star of many a poet's dream!


s: Fair woman's best! forgive the darling line


s: That falters forth thy praise! nor let thine eye


s: Glance o'er the vain attempt too scornfully;


s: But, as thou read'st, think what a love was mine,


s: That made me venture on a theme, that none


s: Can know thee, and not feel a hopeless one.


s: Thou art most fair, though sorrow's chastening wing


s: Hath past, and left its shadow on thy brow,


s: And solemn thoughts are gently mellowing


s: The splendour of thy beauty's summer now.


s: Thou art most fair! but thine is loveliness


s: That dwells not only on the lip, or eye;


s: Thy beauty, is thy pure heart's holiness;


s: While thus I gaze on thee, and watch thee glide,


s: Like some calm spirit o'er life's troubled stream,


s: With thy twin buds of beauty by thy side


s: That like fair visions hovered round my youth,


s: Long sought--and then forgotten as a dream.


s: Live still among ye, like the evening shade,


s: That o'er the sinking day steals placidly.


s: Let me not be forgotten! though the knell


s: Yet oh! upon the emblazoned leaf of fame,


s: But let the lips I loved oft breathe my name,


s: From her bright hair pale showers of dew she shakes,


s: And through the heavens her early pathway takes;


s: It is the noon! the sun looks laughing down


s: On hamlet still, on busy shore, and town,


s: On forest glade, and deep dark waters lone;


s: It is the sunset! daylight's crimson veil


s: Floats o'er the mountain tops, while twilight pale


s: Calls up her vaporous shrouds from every vale;


s: It is the night! o'er the moon's livid brow,


s: Like shadowy locks, the clouds their darkness throw,


s: Spring's early violet, that sweetly opes


s: Its fragrant leaves to the young morning's kiss,


s: Type of our youth's fond dreams, and cherished hopes,


s: The summer's rose, in whose rich hues we read


s: Pleasure's gay bloom, and love's enchanting bliss,


s: And glory's laurel, waving o'er the dead,


s: Oh! that I were a fairy sprite, to wander


s: In forest paths, o'erarched with oak and beech;


s: Where the sun's yellow light, in slanting rays,


s: Sleeps on the dewy moss: what time the breath


s: Of early morn stirs the white hawthorn boughs,


s: And fills the air with showers of snowy blossoms.


s: Or lie at sunset 'mid the purple heather,


s: Listening the silver music that rings out


s: From the pale mountain bells, swayed by the wind.


s: While one by one the evening stars shine forth


s: Among the gathering clouds, that strew the heavens


s: Like floating purple wreaths of mournful nightshade!


s: Oh let it be where the waters are meeting,


s: In one crystal sheet, like the summer's sky bright!


s: Oh let it be where the sun, when retreating,


s: May throw the last glance of his vanishing light.


s: Lay me there! lay me there! and upon my lone pillow


s: Let the emerald moss in soft starry wreaths swell;


s: Be my dirge the faint sob of the murmuring billow,


s: And the burthen it sings to me, nought but "farewell!"


s: Oh let it be where soft slumber enticing,


s: The cypress and myrtle have mingled their shade:


s: Oh let it be where the moon at her rising,


s: May throw the first night-glance that silvers the glade.


s: Lay me there! lay me there! and upon the green willow


s: Hang the harp that has cheered the lone minstrel so well,


s: That the soft breath of heaven, as it sighs o'er my pillow,


s: From its strings, now forsaken, may sound one farewell.


s: When we first met, dark wintry skies were glooming,


s: And the wild winds sang requiem to the year;


s: But thou, in all thy beauty's pride wert blooming,


s: And my young heart knew hope without a fear.


s: When we last parted, summer suns were smiling,


s: And the bright earth her flowery vesture wore;


s: But thou hadst lost the power of beguiling,


s: For my wrecked, wearied heart, could hope no more.


s: Flower of the mountain! by the wanderer's hand


s: Robbed of thy beauty's short-lived sunny day;


s: Didst thou but blow to gem the stranger's way,


s: And bloom, to wither in the stranger's land?


s: How much, much more, that thrills the heart,


s: Where is thy beauty? in the grassy blade,


s: There lives more fragrance, and more freshness now;


s: Yet oh! not all the flowers that bloom and fade,


s: Are half so dear to memory's eye as thou.


s: The breeze that o'er the mountain sighs,


s: Thou faded thing! can make thee flourish.


s: 'Twas but a dream! and oh! what are they all,


s: All the fond visions Hope's bright finger traces,


s: All the fond visions Time's dark wing effaces,


s: But very dreams! but morning buds, that fall


s: Withered and blighted, long before the night:


s: Strewing the paths they should have made more bright,


s: With mournful wreaths, whose light hath past away,


s: That can return to life and beauty never,


s: We deemed they'd bloom as fresh and fair for ever.


s: Oh then, when hopes, that to thy heart are dearest,


s: Over the future shed their sunniest beam,


s: When round thy path their bright wings hover nearest,


s: Trust not too fondly!--for 'tis but a dream!


s: Oh weary, weary world! how full thou art


s: In thy fierce turmoil, where shall the sad heart,


s: Released from pain, fold its unrested wings?


s: Peace hath no dwelling here, but evermore


s: Loud discord, strife, and envy, fill the earth


s: With fearful riot, whilst unhallowed mirth


s: Shrieks frantic laughter forth, leading along,


s: Whirling in dizzy trance the eager throng,


s: With tears, forbidden joys, and blood filled up,


s: Quaffing long draughts of death; in lawless might,


s: Drunk with soft harmonies, and dazzling light,


s: Poor little sprite! in that dark, narrow cell


s: Caged by the law of man's resistless might!


s: With thy sweet liquid notes, by some strong spell,


s: Whence, what art thou? art thou a fairy wight


s: Caught sleeping in some lily's snowy bell,


s: Where thou hadst crept, to rock in the moonlight,


s: And drink the starry dew-drops, as they fell?


s: Say, dost thou think, sometimes when thou art singing,


s: Of thy wild haunt upon the mountain's brow,


s: Where thou wert wont to list the heath-bells ringing,


s: When thou art weary of thy oft-told theme,


s: Say, dost thou think of the clear pebbly stream,


s: Upon whose mossy brink thy fellows play,


s: Dancing in circles by the moon's soft beam,


s: Hiding in blossoms from the sun's fierce gleam,


s: Whilst thou, in darkness, sing'st thy life away?


s: And canst thou feel when the spring-time returns,


s: Filling the earth with fragrance and with glee;


s: When in the wide creation nothing mourns,


s: Of all that lives, save that which is not free?


s: Oh! if thou couldst, and we could hear thy prayer,


s: How would thy little voice beseeching cry,


s: For one short draught of the sweet morning air,


s: For one short glimpse of the clear azure sky!


s: Perchance thou sing'st in hope thou shalt be free,


s: Sweetly and patiently thy task fulfilling;


s: While thy sad thoughts are wandering with the bee,


s: That hope is vain: for even couldst thou wing


s: Thy homeward flight back to the greenwood gay,


s: Thou'dst be a shunned and a forsaken thing,


s: 'Mongst the companions of thy happier day.


s: For fairy sprites, like many other creatures,


s: Bear fleeting memories, that come and go;


s: Nor can they oft recall familiar features,


s: By absence touched, or clouded o'er with woe.


s: Then rest content with sorrow: for there be


s: Many that must that lesson learn with thee;


s: And still thy wild notes warble cheerfully,


s: Till, when thy tiny voice begins to fail,


s: For thy lost bliss sing but one parting wail,


s: Poor little sprite! and then sleep peacefully!


s: With thy pale brow, brown eyes, and solemn air,


s: But for short space I gazed, with soul intent


s: Meantime, poured all thy spirit into mine.


s: But once I gazed, then on my way I went:


s: And thou art still before me.  Like a dream


s: Of what our soul has loved, and lost for ever,


s: Thy vision dwells with me, and though I never


s: That one short look has stamped thee in my heart,


s: Which time, and death, shall never triumph o'er.


s: Walking by moonlight on the golden margin


s: That binds the silver sea, I fell to thinking


s: Hath peopled heaven, and earth, and ocean with;


s: Alive with beings, beautiful and fearful.


s: And as the chain of thought grew link by link,


s: It seemed, as though the midnight heavens waxed brighter,


s: The stars gazed fix'dly with their golden eyes,


s: And a strange light played o'er each sleeping billow,


s: That laid its head upon the sandy beach.


s: From no one point of heaven, or earth, it came;


s: Filling my soul with thrilling, fearful pleasure.


s: It swelled, as though borne on the floating wings


s: Towards heaven, as though it sank into the clouds,


s: That one by one melted like flakes of snow


s: In the moonbeams.  Then came a rushing sound,


s: Like countless wings of bees, or butterflies;


s: The coast was peopled with a world of elves,


s: Who in fantastic ringlets danced around,


s: With antic gestures, and wild beckoning motion,


s: Aimed at the moon.  White was their snowy vesture,


s: And shining as the Alps, when that the sun


s: Gems their pale robes with diamonds.  On their heads


s: Were wreaths of crimson and of yellow foxglove.


s: They were all fair, and light as dreams; anon


s: The dance broke off; and sailing through the air,


s: Some one way, and some other, they did each


s: Alight upon some waving branch, or flower,


s: That garlanded the rocks upon the shore.


s: One, chiefly, did I mark, one tiny sprite,


s: And there lay nestling, whilst his eager lips


s: Drank from its virgin chalice the night dew,


s: That glistened, like a pearl, in its white bosom.


s: From the ill-sight of men, and from the rude,


s: Tumultuous din of yon wide world's alarms!


s: Oh, knit your mighty limbs around, above,


s: With the wood spirits, in the darkest cell


s: That ever with your verdant locks ye wove.


s: The air is full of countless voices, joined


s: In one eternal hymn; the whispering wind,


s: The shuddering leaves, the hidden water-springs,


s: The work-song of the bees, whose honeyed wings


s: Farewell, old playmate! on thy sandy shore


s: My lingering feet will leave their print no more;


s: I pray thee, old companion, make due mourn


s: For the wild spirit who so oft has stood


s: That half in anger oft, and half in play,


s: Thou hast pursued with thy white showers of foam.


s: I loved among the rocks; but there will be


s: Such as was wont to greet thee, when I fled,


s: With hurried footsteps, and averted head,


s: Like fallen monarch, from my venturous stand,


s: Chased by thy billows far along the sand.


s: And when at eventide thy warm waves drink


s: The amber clouds that in their bosom sink;


s: When sober twilight over thee has spread


s: Her purple pall, when the glad day is dead


s: My voice no more will mingle with the dirge


s: That rose in mighty moaning from thy surge,


s: When thy vast soul and mine were joined in prayer.


s: Into the boundless void, thou mighty wind!


s: And leav'st this weary world, far, far behind!


s: Ye headlong waters! whose mad eddies leap


s: Ye rosy clouds! that to my longing sight


s: Seem melting in the sun's devouring ray!


s: To sweep this loathsome life into the past!


s: It was the harvest time: the broad, bright moon


s: Was at her full, and shone upon the fields


s: Where we had toiled the livelong day, to pile


s: In golden sheaves the earth's abundant treasure.


s: The harvest task had given place to song


s: And merry dance; and these in turn were chased


s: By legends strange, and wild, unearthly tales


s: Of elves, and gnomes, and fairy sprites, that haunt


s: The woods and caves; where they do sleep all day,


s: And then come forth i' the witching hour of night,


s: To dance by moonlight on the green thick sward.


s: In whom his oft-told tale awoke no fears,


s: Such as he filled his gaping listeners with.


s: Nor ever was there break in his discourse,


s: Save when with gray eyes lifted to the moon,


s: He conjured from the past strange instances


s: Of kidnapp'd infants, from their cradles snatch'd,


s: And changed for elvish sprites; of blights, and blains,


s: Sent on the cattle by the vengeful fairies;


s: Of blasted crops, maim'd limbs, and unsound minds,


s: All plagues inflicted by these angered sprites.


s: Then would he pause, and wash his story down


s: With long-drawn draughts of amber ale; while all


s: The rest came crowding under the wide oak tree,


s: Piling the corn sheaves closer round the ring,


s: Whispering and shaking, laughing too, with fear;


s: And ever, if an acorn bobb'd from the boughs,


s: Or grasshopper from out the stubble chirrupp'd,


s: Blessing themselves from Robin Goodfellow!


s: Oft let me wander hand in hand with Thought,


s: In woodland paths, and lone sequester'd shades,


s: What time the sunny banks and mossy glades,


s: With dewy wreaths of early violets wrought,


s: Into the air their fragrant incense fling,


s: To greet the triumph of the youthful Spring.


s: Lo, where she comes! 'scaped from the icy lair


s: Of hoary Winter; wanton, free, and fair!


s: Now smile the heavens again upon the earth,


s: Bright hill, and bosky dell, resound with mirth,


s: And voices, full of laughter and wild glee,


s: Shout through the air pregnant with harmony;


s: With sleepy voice, that softly, slowly dies.


s: She whom thou lov'st perchance, as I love thee,--


s: She unto whom thy thoughts and wishes flee;


s: Those thoughts, in which, alas! I bear no part.


s: Oh, I have sat and sighed, thinking how fair,


s: How passing beautiful, thy love must be;


s: Oh, that I might but once behold those eyes,


s: That to thy enamour'd gaze alone seem fair;


s: Once hear that voice, whose music still replies


s: To the fond vows thy passionate accents swear:


s: Oh, that I might but know the truth and die,


s: By the pure spring, whose haunted waters flow


s: Through thy sequester'd dell unto the sea,


s: Not troubling the still fount with drops of woe,


s: As when I last took leave of it and thee,


s: But gazing up at thee with tranquil brow,


s: And eyes full of life's early happiness,


s: Of strength, of hope, of joy, and tenderness.


s: Beneath the shadowy tree, where thou and I


s: Of gentle Shakspeare, and of Milton high,


s: Not sobbing forth each oft-repeated sound,


s: As when I last faultered them o'er to thee,


s: With youth's clear laughing voice of melody.


s: Where we have stray'd so oft, and stood so long


s: Watching the mighty waters conquering sweep,


s: And listening to their loud triumphant song,


s: At sunny noon, dearest! I'll be with thee:


s: Not as when last I linger'd on the strand,


s: Tracing our names on the inconstant sand;


s: But in each bright thing that around shall be:


s: My voice shall call thee from the ocean's breast,


s: Thou'lt see my hair in its bright, showery crest,


s: In its dark, rocky depths, thou'lt see my eyes,


s: My form, shall be the light cloud in the skies,


s: My spirit shall be with thee, warm and bright,


s: And flood thee o'er with love, and life, and light.


s: When sleep and silence keep their watch o'er men;


s: When in the world of dreams thy spirit strays,


s: Seeking, in vain, the peace it finds not here,


s: Thou shalt be led back to thine early days


s: Of life and love, and I will meet thee there.


s: I'll come to thee, with the bright, sunny brow,


s: That was Hope's throne before I met with thee;


s: And then I'll show thee how 'tis furrowed now


s: I'll speak to thee, in the fond, joyous tone,


s: That wooed thee still with love's impassioned spell;


s: And then I'll teach thee how I've learnt to moan,


s: Since last upon thine ear its accents fell.


s: I'll come to thee in all youth's brightest power,


s: As on the day thy faith to mine was plighted,


s: And then I'll tell thee weary hour by hour,


s: How that spring's early promise has been blighted.


s: I'll tell thee of the long, long, dreary years,


s: That have passed o'er me hopeless, objectless;


s: My loathsome days, my nights of burning tears,


s: My heart-sick dreams upon my feverish bed,


s: My fearful longing to be with the dead;--


s: When sleep and silence keep their watch o'er men;


s: Spirit of all sweet sounds! who in mid air


s: Sittest enthroned, vouchsafe to hear my prayer!


s: Let all those instruments of music sweet,


s: That in great nature's hymn bear burthen meet,


s: Sing round this mossy pillow, where my head


s: From the bright noontide sky is sheltered.


s: Thou southern wind! wave, wave thy od'rous wings;


s: O'er your smooth channels gush, ye crystal springs!


s: Ye laughing elves! that through the rustling corn


s: Ye wild wood minstrels, sing my lullaby!


s: I would I might be with thee, when the year


s: Begins to wane, and that thou walk'st alone


s: Upon the rocky strand, whilst loud and clear,


s: The autumn wind sings, from his cloudy throne,


s: Wild requiems for the summer that is gone.


s: I would my soul might reason then with thine,


s: Upon those themes most solemn and most strange,


s: Which every falling leaf and fading flower,


s: Filling the brief space of one mortal hour,


s: With fearful thoughts of death, decay, and change,


s: And the high mystery of that after birth,


s: That comes to us, as well as to the earth.


s: By jasper founts, whose falling waters make


s: Or 'neath the gloom of solemn cypress bowers,


s: Through whose dark screen no prying sunbeams break:


s: With thy majestic mien, and thoughtful eyes,


s: And lips, whereon all holy counsel lies,


s: And shining tresses of soft rippling gold,


s: Like to some shape beheld in days of old


s: By seer or prophet, when, as poets sing,


s: The gods had not forsaken yet the earth,


s: But loved to haunt each shady dell and grove;


s: When ev'ry breeze was the soft breath of love,


s: When the blue air rang with sweet sounds of mirth,


s: And this dark world seemed fair as at its birth.


s: All things that be in the world so wide.


s: With mingling sound of thousand harmonies,


s: Soft lute and viol, trumpet-blast and gong,


s: They came along, and still they came along!


s: Thousands, and tens of thousands, all that e'er


s: Peopled the earth, or ploughed th' unfathomed deep,


s: And all that in the womb of Time yet sleep.


s: With hurried feet, and oft-averted head;


s: And with inviting hand them on she beckoned.


s: Her servants three: Lust, with his eye of fire,


s: And burning lips, that tremble with desire,


s: Pale sunken cheek:--and as he staggered by,


s: The trumpet-blast was hush'd, and there arose


s: As breath'd into the soul love's ecstacies and woes.


s: The double drum did roll, and to the sky


s: Bay'd War's bloodhounds, the deep artillery;


s: Waving a flashing sword and laurel wreath,


s: He pass'd like lightning--then ceased every sound


s: Of war triumphant, and of love's sweet song,


s: And all was silent--Creeping slow along,


s: With eager eyes, that wandered round and round,


s: Wild, haggard mien, and meagre, wasted frame,


s: Bow'd to the earth, pale, starving Av'rice came:


s: Clutching with palsied hands his golden god,


s: And tottering in the path the others trod.


s: And after them followed the ceaseless stream


s: Of worshippers, who, with mad shout and scream,


s: Unhallow'd toil, and more unhallow'd mirth,


s: Follow their mistress, Pleasure, through the earth.


s: Death's eyeless sockets glared upon them all,


s: And many in the train were seen to fall,


s: But not for this was stay'd the mighty throng,


s: Nor ceased the warlike clang, or wanton lays,


s: But still they rush'd--along--along--along!


s: Whence should they come, lady! those happy days


s: That thy fair hand and gentle heart invoke


s: Bear through this journey-land of wo, life's yoke.


s: The light of such lives not in thine own lays;


s: Such were not hers, that girl, so fond, so fair,


s: Beneath whose image thou hast traced thy pray'r.


s: Evil, and few, upon this darksome earth,


s: Must be the days of all of mortal birth;


s: Then why not mine?  Sweet lady! wish again,


s: Not more of joy to me, but less of pain;


s: Calm slumber, when life's troubled hours are past,


s: And with thy friendship cheer them while they last.


s: Merciful spirit! who thy bright throne above


s: Hast left, to wander through this dismal earth


s: With me, poor child of sin!--Angel of love!


s: Whose guardian wings hung o'er me from my birth,


s: And who still walk'st unwearied by my side,


s: How oft, oh thou compassionate! must thou mourn


s: Over the wayward deeds, the thoughts of pride,


s: That thy pure eyes behold!  Yet not aside


s: From thy sad task dost thou in anger turn;


s: But patiently, thou hast but gazed and sighed,


s: And followed still, striving with the divine


s: Powers of thy soul for mastery over mine;


s: And though all line of human hope be past,


s: Still fondly watching, hoping, to the last.


s: Suggested by Sir Thomas Lawrence observing that we never dream of


s: Not in our dreams, not even in our dreams,


s: May we return to that sweet land of youth,


s: That home of hope, of innocence, and truth,


s: Which as we farther roam but fairer seems.


s: In that dim shadowy world, where the soul strays


s: When she has laid her mortal charge to rest,


s: We oft behold far future hours and days,


s: But ne'er live o'er the past, the happiest,


s: Bear us in sleep to times and worlds unseen!


s: But ah! not e'en unfettered fancy's wings


s: Can lead us back to aught that we have been,


s: Or waft us to that smiling, sunny shore,


s: Which e'en in slumber we may tread no more.


s: When you and I held converse dear together,


s: There come a thousand thoughts of sunny weather,


s: Of early blossoms, and the fresh year's prime;


s: With all the fragrant beauties of the spring,


s: With od'rous lime and silver hawthorn twined,


s: There's not a thought of you, but brings along


s: Some sunny dream of river, field, and sky;


s: 'Tis wafted on the blackbird's sunset song,


s: 'Twixt the last violet and the earliest rose.


s: Hail to thee, spirit of hope! whom men call Spring;


s: Youngest and fairest of the four, who guide


s: Our mortal year along Time's rapid tide.


s: Has heard thy voice, and at a wondrous birth,


s: Forth springing from her dark, mysterious womb,


s: A thousand germs of light and beauty come.


s: Thy breath is on the waters, and they leap


s: From their bright winter-woven fetters free;


s: Along the shore their sparkling billows sweep,


s: The air is full of music, wild and sweet,


s: Wherein a thousand winged minstrels meet,


s: And founts, that in the blessed sunshine sing;


s: Hail to thee! maiden, with the bright blue eyes!


s: And showery robe, all steeped in starry dew;


s: Hail to thee! as thou ridest through the skies,


s: How passing sad!  Listen, it sings again!


s: Art thou a spirit, that amongst the boughs,


s: The livelong day dost chaunt that wond'rous strain


s: Out of the clouds to hear thee?  Who shall say,


s: Let him come listen now to that one note,


s: That thou art pouring o'er and o'er again


s: Through the sweet echoes of thy mellow throat,


s: With such a sobbing sound of deep, deep pain,


s: I prithee cease thy song! for from my heart


s: Thou hast made memory's bitter waters start,


s: And filled my weary eyes with the soul's rain.


s: When on his clasping arm thy head reclineth,


s: When on thy lips his ardent kisses dwell,


s: And the bright flood of burning light, that shineth


s: When thou shalt lie enfolded to his heart,


s: In all the trusting helplessness of love;


s: Oh, give one sigh unto a doom like mine!


s: Which I would have thee pity, but not prove.


s: One cold, calm, careless, wintry look, that fell


s: E'er gave my love; round that, my wild thoughts dwell


s: A maiden meek, with solemn, steadfast eyes,


s: And smiling lips, through whose soft portal sighs


s: Truth's holy voice, with ev'ry balmy breath;


s: So journeys she along life's crowded way,


s: Keeping her soul's sweet counsel from all sight;


s: Nor aught that men call dazzling, fair, or bright:


s: For pity, sometimes, doth she pause, and stay


s: Those whom she meeteth mourning, for her heart


s: Knows well in suffering how to bear its part.


s: Patiently lives she through each dreary day,


s: Looking with little hope unto the morrow;


s: And still she walketh hand in hand with sorrow.


s: Thou oft must hear, for surely there be none


s: On whom thy wond'rous eyes have ever shone


s: But for a moment, or who e'er have heard


s: Can lose the memory of that look or tone.


s: I never shall forget thee:--in thine eyes,


s: Whose light, like sunshine, makes the world rejoice,


s: A stream of sad and solemn splendour lies;


s: And there is sorrow in thy gentle voice.


s: Thou art not like the scenes in which I found thee,


s: Thou art not like the beings that surround thee;


s: To me, thou art a dream of hope and fear;


s: Yet why of fear?--oh sure! the Power that lent


s: Such gifts, to make thee fair, and excellent;


s: Still watches one whom it has deigned to bless


s: With such a dower of grace and loveliness;


s: Over the dangerous waves 'twill surely steer


s: The richly freighted bark, through storm and blast,


s: And guide it safely to the port at last.


s: Such is my prayer; 'tis warm as ever fell


s: From off my lips: accept it, and farewell!


s: And though in this strange world where first I met thee;


s: We meet no more--I never shall forget thee.


s: Once more, once more into the sunny fields


s: And drink the joy that young existence yields


s: And join the wild wind's voice of melody,


s: Once more, once more, oh let me stand and hear


s: As its bright drops fall starlike, fast and clear,


s: Once more, oh let me list the soft sweet breeze


s: Let me, oh let me say farewell to these,


s: Oh, lovely earth! oh, blessed smiling sky!


s: Oh, music of the wood, the wave, the wind!


s: Have traced ye on the tablets of my mind--


s: Loud wind, strong wind, where art thou blowing?


s: Clear wave, swift wave, where art thou flowing?


s: Young life, swift life, where art thou going?


s: When the glad sun looks smiling from the sky,


s: Upon each shadowy glen and woody height,


s: And that you tread those well known paths where I


s: Have stray'd with you,--do not forget me quite.


s: When the warm hearth throws its bright glow around,


s: On many a smiling cheek, and glance of light,


s: And the gay laugh wakes with its joyous sound


s: The soul of mirth,--do not forget me quite.


s: You will not miss me; for with you remain


s: Hearts fond and warm, and spirits young and bright,


s: 'Tis but one word--"farewell;" and all again


s: Will seem the same,--yet don't forget me quite.


s: The earth was drunk with heaven's tears,


s: When you mournfully rivet your tear-laden eyes,


s: That have seen the last sunset of hope pass away,


s: On some bright orb that seems, through the still sapphire skies,


s: In beauty and splendour to roll on its way:


s: Oh, remember this earth, if beheld from afar,


s: Appears wrapt in a halo as soft, and as bright,


s: As the pure silver radiance enshrining yon star,


s: Where your spirit is eagerly soaring to-night.


s: And at this very midnight, perhaps some poor heart,


s: That is aching, or breaking, in that distant sphere;


s: Gazes down on this dark world, and longs to depart


s: From its own dismal home, to a happier one here.


s: Thou little star, that in the purple clouds


s: Hang'st, like a dew-drop, in a violet bed;


s: First gem of evening, glittering on the shrouds,


s: 'Mid whose dark folds the day lies pale and dead:


s: As through my tears my soul looks up to thee,


s: Loathing the heavy chains that bind it here,


s: There comes a fearful thought that misery


s: Perhaps is found, even in thy distant sphere.


s: Where all things fairest, soonest pass away?


s: And are there graves in thee, thou radiant world,


s: Round which life's sweetest buds fall withered,


s: Where hope's bright wings in the dark earth lie furled,


s: And living hearts are mouldering with the dead?


s: Perchance they do not die, that dwell in thee,


s: Perchance theirs is a darker doom than ours;


s: And mourning that hath neither days nor hours.


s: Horrible dream!--Oh dark and dismal path,


s: Where I now weeping walk, I will not leave thee;


s: Earth has one boon for all her children--death:


s: Open thy arms, oh mother! and receive me!


s: Take off the bitter burthen from the slave,


s: Give me my birthright! give--the grave, the grave!


s: Thou poisonous laurel leaf, that in the soil


s: Of life, which I am doomed to till full sore,


s: Spring'st like a noisome weed!  I do not toil


s: For thee, and yet thou still com'st dark'ning o'er


s: My plot of earth with thy unwelcome shade.


s: Thou nightshade of the soul, beneath whose boughs


s: All fair and gentle buds hang withering!


s: Why hast thou wreathed thyself around my brows,


s: Casting from thence the blossoms of my spring,


s: Breathing on youth's sweet roses till they fade?


s: Watered with tears and watched with sleepless care,


s: Seldom doth envy thy green glories spare;


s: And yet men covet thee--ah, wherefore do they so!


s: I hear it in the murmuring of the floods,


s: Autumn is come; seest thou not in the skies,


s: The stormy light of his fierce lurid eyes?


s: Autumn is come; his brazen feet have trod,


s: Withering and scorching, o'er the mossy sod.


s: The fainting year sees her fresh flowery wreath


s: Shrivel in his hot grasp; his burning breath


s: Dries the sweet water-springs that in the shade


s: Summer's bright wings shining ere they are furled.


s: Is it a sin to wish that I may meet thee


s: In that dim world whither our spirits stray,


s: When sleep and darkness follow life and day?


s: Is it a sin, that there my voice should greet thee


s: With all that love that I must die concealing?


s: Will my tear-laden eyes sin in revealing


s: Is't not enough through the long, loathsome day,


s: To hold each look, and word, in stern control?


s: May I not wish the staring sunlight gone,


s: Day and its thousand torturing moments done,


s: And prying sights and sounds of men away?


s: Oh, still and silent Night! when all things sleep,


s: Locked in thy swarthy breast my secret keep:


s: Come, with thy vision'd hopes and blessings now!


s: Written at four o'clock in the morning, after a ball.


s: Oh, modest maiden morn! why dost thou blush,


s: Who thus betimes art walking in the sky?


s: 'Tis I, whose cheek bears pleasure's sleepless flush,


s: Who shame to meet thy gray, cloud-lidded eye,


s: Shadowy, yet clear: from the bright eastern door,


s: Where the sun's shafts lie bound with thongs of fire,


s: The glad hours move, hymning their early choir.


s: Press thy fresh lips, shake from thy dropping hair


s: Cold showers of balmy dew on me, and ere


s: Day's chariot-wheels upon th' horizon glow,


s: And bear me to thy twilight bowers away.


s: I'll tell thee why this weary world meseemeth


s: But as the visions light of one who dreameth,


s: Which pass like clouds, leaving no trace behind;


s: Why this strange life, so full of sin and folly,


s: Nor leaveth shade, or sadness, on my mind.


s: Mistaking that which falsest is, for true;


s: 'Tis not that pleasure hath entwined me,


s: O'er which no living power holdeth control,


s: Anigh to which ill things do never come.


s: There shineth the glad sunlight of clear thought,


s: With hope, and faith, holding communion high,


s: Over a fragrant land with flowers wrought,


s: There speak the voices that I love to hear,


s: There smile the glances that I love to see,


s: There live the forms of those my soul holds dear,


s: For ever, in that secret world, with me.


s: They who have walked with me along life's way,


s: And sever'd been by Fortune's adverse tide,


s: Who ne'er again, through Time's uncertain day,


s: These all dwell here: nor these, whom life alone


s: Divideth from me, but the dead, the dead;


s: Those weary ones who to their rest are gone,


s: Whose footprints from the earth have vanished;


s: Here dwell they all: and here, within this world,


s: Like light within a summer sun cloud furled,


s: My spirit dwells.  Therefore, this evil life,


s: With all its gilded snares, and fair deceivings,


s: Its wealth, its want, its pleasures, and its grievings,


s: Nor frights, nor frets me, by its idle strife.


s: Whoe'er thou art, I wish the same to thee!


s: Where the yellow sun-rays at morning fall


s: Through their tresses dark, with a mellow gleam.


s: I shall tread no more the thick dewy lawn,


s: When the young moon hangs on the brow of night,


s: Shake the fading stars from her robes of light.


s: O'er the springing sward,--through the twilight wood;


s: Nor reign my courser, and check my speed,


s: By the lonely grange, and the haunted flood.


s: 'Neath the oak's broad shade, in the leafy dell:


s: The summer is past;--farewell!--farewell!


s: Oh, serious eyes! how is it that the light,


s: The burning rays that mine pour into ye,


s: Still find ye cold, and dead, and dark, as night--


s: Oh, lifeless eyes! can ye not answer me?


s: Oh, lips! whereon mine own so often dwell,


s: Hath love's warm, fearful, thrilling touch, no spell


s: Oh, breathless lips! can ye not speak to me?


s: Fall scalding over thee; in vain, in vain;


s: I press thee to my heart, whose hopes, and fears,


s: Are all thine own; thou dost not feel the strain.


s: Oh, thou dull image! wilt thou not reply


s: There's not a fibre in my trembling frame


s: That does not vibrate when thy step draws near,


s: There's not a pulse that throbs not when I hear


s: Thy voice, thy breathing, nay, thy very name.


s: When thou art with me, every sense seems dull,


s: And all I am, or know, or feel, is thee;


s: My soul grows faint, my veins run liquid flame,


s: When thou art gone, there creeps into my heart


s: A cold and bitter consciousness of pain:


s: The light, the warmth of life, with thee depart,


s: Thy greeting clasp, thy parting look, and tone;


s: Come where the white waves dance along the shore


s: Of some lone isle, lost in the unknown seas;


s: Whose golden sands by mortal foot before


s: Were never printed,--where the fragrant breeze,


s: That never swept o'er land or flood that man


s: Could call his own, th' unearthly breeze shall fan


s: Our mingled tresses with its odorous sighs;


s: Where the eternal heaven's blue, sunny eyes


s: Did ne'er look down on human shapes of earth,


s: Or aught of mortal mould and death-doomed birth:


s: Come there with me; and when we are alone


s: In that enchanted desert, where the tone


s: Of earthly voice, or language, yet did ne'er


s: With its strange music startle the still air,


s: When clasped in thy upholding arms I stand,


s: Upon that bright world's coral-cradled strand,


s: When I can hide my face upon thy breast,


s: While thy heart answers mine together pressed,


s: Then fold me closer, bend thy head above me,


s: Listen--and I will tell thee how I love thee.


s: Or loosen from its braids the rippling gold


s: Or kiss, while thou art sleeping on my breast,


s: Or gaze, with fainting soul, upon the veil


s: Oh child! who to this evil world art come,


s: Led by the unseen hand of Him who guards thee,


s: Welcome unto this dungeon-house, thy home!


s: Welcome to all the woe this life awards thee!


s: Hath worn no trace; thou look'st as though from heaven,


s: But pain, and guilt, and misery lie within;


s: Poor exile! from thy happy birth-land driven.


s: Thine eyes are sealed by the soft hand of sleep,


s: And like unruffled waves thy slumber seems;


s: The time's at hand when thou must wake to weep,


s: Or sleeping, walk a restless world of dreams.


s: How oft, as day by day life's burthen lies


s: Heavier and darker on thy fainting soul,


s: Wilt thou towards heaven turn thy weary eyes,


s: And long in bitterness to reach the goal!


s: How oft wilt thou, upon Time's flinty road,


s: Gaze at thy far off early days, in vain;


s: Weeping, how oft wilt thou cast down thy load,


s: And curse and pray, then take it up again!


s: How many times shall the fiend Hope, extend


s: Her poisonous chalice to thy thirsty lips!


s: How oft shall Love its withering sunshine lend,


s: How oft shall Sorrow strain thee in her grasp,--


s: How oft shall Sin laugh at thine overthrow--


s: How oft shall Doubt, Despair, and Anguish clasp


s: Their knotted arms around thine aching brow!


s: Oh, living soul, hail to thy narrow cage!


s: Spirit of light, hail to thy gloomy cave!


s: Welcome to longing youth, to loathing age,


s: Welcome, immortal! welcome to the grave!


s: Life wanes, and the bright sunlight of our youth


s: Sets o'er the mountain-tops, where once Hope stood.


s: Where are ye all, white-handed sisterhood,


s: Singing sweet scraps of that immortal song


s: That's hymn'd in Heaven, but hath no echo here?


s: Are ye departing, fellows bright and clear,


s: Of the young spirit, when it first alights


s: Farewell! fair children of th' eternal day,


s: Blossoms of that far land where fall no blights,


s: Sweet kindred of my exiled soul, farewell!


s: Here I must wander, here ye may not dwell;


s: Back to your home beyond the founts of light


s: Spirit, bright spirit! from thy narrow cell


s: Thy voice, and know that thou indeed art near!


s: That from the bonds in which thou'rt forced to dwell


s: Thou hast not broken free, thou art not fled,


s: Thou hast not pined away, thou art not dead.


s: Speak to me through thy prison bars; my life


s: With all things round, is one eternal strife,


s: 'Mid whose wild din I pause to hear thy voice;


s: Speak to me, look on me, thou born of light!


s: That I may know thou'rt with me, and rejoice.


s: Shall there not come a better, brighter day?


s: Shall not thy chain and mine be broken quite,


s: Oh! let but these dark days be once gone by,


s: And thou, unwilling captive, that dost strain,


s: With tiptoe longing, vainly, towards the sky,


s: O'er the whole kingdom of my life shalt reign.


s: But, while I'm doomed beneath the yoke to bow,


s: Of sordid toiling in these caverns drear,


s: Oh, look upon me sometimes with thy brow


s: Of shining brightness; sometimes let me hear


s: Thy blessed voice, singing the songs of Heaven,


s: Whence thou and I, together have been driven;


s: Give me assurance that thou still art nigh,


s: Lest I sink down beneath my load, and die!


s: Where the sweet breathing spring winds blow,


s: Nor where the sunshine, warm and bright,


s: Comes down like a still shower of light;


s: With dark, green, starry moss o'ergrown,


s: My feet shall tread no more thy mossy side,


s: When once they turn away, thou _Pleasant Water_,


s: Will shine the eyes of the White Island's daughter.


s: Beyond the sea that parts thy home and mine,


s: Upon thy banks the evening sun will shine,


s: And I shall hear thy low, still flowing on.


s: Thou _Pleasant Water_, and thy clear waves see.


s: Bright be thy course for ever and for ever,


s: Child of pure mountain springs, and mountain snow;


s: And as thou wanderest on to meet the river


s: Oh, still in light and music mayst thou flow!


s: When once my sail is shadowed on the main,


s: Nor ever shall I hear thy laughing voice


s: As on their rippling way thy waves rejoice,


s: Its gloomy shade o'er the clear depths below,


s: Sparkling like diamond rocks in the sun's ray,


s: Shall I look down on thee, thou pleasant stream,


s: Beneath whose crystal folds the gold sands gleam;


s: Wherefore, farewell! but whensoe'er again


s: The wintry spell melts from the earth and air;


s: And the young Spring comes dancing through thy glen,


s: With fragrant, flowery breath, and sunny hair;


s: When through the snow the scarlet berries gleam,


s: My spirit shall through many a summer's day


s: Return, among thy peaceful woods to stray.


s: May Heaven's brightest stars watch over thee!


s: Good angels spread their wings, and cover thee,


s: My heart is hovering round thy dwelling-place,


s: Good night, dear love!  God bless thee with his grace!


s: Soft lullabies the night-wind sing to thee!


s: And on its wings sweet odours bring to thee!


s: My knees are bowed, my hands are clasped in prayer--


s: Good night, dear love!  God keep thee in his care!


s: And longing love, like a wrapping flame,


s: Through the hot mist that veils my eyes!


s: Your voice--but his,--oh, guard me well!


s: Your withered blossom, crushed and broken.


s: You say you're glad I write--oh, say not so!


s: My fount of song, dear friend, 's a bitter well;


s: And when the numbers freely from it flow,


s: 'Tis that my heart, and eyes, o'erflow as well.


s: Castalia, fam'd of yore,--the spring divine,


s: Moore and Anacreon, found its waves were wine,


s: To me, it flows a sullen stream of tears.


s: Those happy hours, when down the mountain side,


s: And, hand in hand, went forth upon our way,


s: Full of young life and hope, to meet the day.


s: Those sunny hours, when from the mid-day heat,


s: We sought the waterfall with loitering feet,


s: And o'er the rocks that lock the gleaming pool,


s: Crept down into its depths, so dark and cool.


s: Those solemn hours, when through the violet sky,


s: The round red autumn moon came glowingly,


s: While o'er the leaden waves our boat made way.


s: Those blessed hours, when the bright day was past,


s: And in the world we seemed to wake alone,


s: When heart to heart beat throbbingly, and fast,


s: And love was melting our two souls in one.


s: And weep that trust, and that deceiving;


s: Had blessed one's life with true believing.


s: Are they indeed the bitterest tears we shed,


s: Can our thoughts image forth no darker doom,


s: Than that which wraps us in the peaceful tomb?


s: Whom have ye laid beneath that mossy grave,


s: Round which the slender, sunny, grass-blades wave?


s: This weary walk of life? towards whom, in vain,


s: Are your fond eyes and yearning hearts upraised;


s: The young, the loved, the honoured, and the praised?


s: Of that still woman, who with eyelids meek


s: Veils her most mournful eyes;--upon her brow


s: Sometimes the sensitive blood will faintly glow,


s: When reckless hands her heart-wounds roughly tear,


s: Beauty has left her--hope and joy have long


s: Fled from her heart, yet she is young, is _young_;


s: Has many years, as human tongues would tell,


s: Upon the face of this blank earth to dwell.


s: Looks she not sad? 'tis but a tale of old,


s: Told o'er and o'er, and ever to be told,


s: Which when men hear, they sigh and turn away;


s: She is the daughter of a distant land;--


s: Her kindred are far off;--her maiden hand,


s: Who owned a different birthland from her own.


s: But what reck'd she of that? as low she knelt


s: Breathing her marriage vows, her fond heart felt,


s: "For thee, I give up country, home, and friends;


s: Thy love for each, for all, shall make amends;"


s: And was she loved?--perishing by her side


s: The children of her bosom drooped and died;


s: The bitter life they drew from her cold breast


s: Flicker'd and failed; she laid them down to rest,


s: Two pale young blossoms in their early sleep,


s: And weeping said, "They have not lived to weep."


s: And weeps she yet? no, to her weary eyes


s: The bliss of tears, her frozen heart denies;


s: Complaint, or sigh, breathes not upon her lips,


s: Her life is one dark, fatal, deep eclipse.


s: Lead _her_ to the green grave where ye have laid


s: The creature that ye mourn;--let it be said,


s: "Here love, and youth, and beauty, are at rest!"


s: She only sadly murmurs, "Blest!--most blest!"


s: Should make her sin, and pray to Heaven to die.


s: Thy beechen woods, thy heathery mountains,


s: Through which the summer rills run weeping.


s: Blame not my tears, love: to you has been given


s: The brightest, best gift, God to mortals allows;


s: The sunlight of hope on your heart shines from Heaven,


s: And shines from your heart, on this life and its woes.


s: Blame not my tears, love: on you her best treasure


s: Kind nature has lavish'd, oh, long be it yours!


s: For how barren soe'er be the path you now measure,


s: The future still woos you with hands full of flowers.


s: Oh, ne'er be that gift, love, withdrawn from thy keeping!


s: If thou ever must weep, may it shine through thy weeping,


s: As the sun his warm rays through a spring shower flings.


s: But blame not my tears, love: to me 'twas denied;


s: And when fate to my lips gave this life's mingled cup,


s: She had filled to the brim, from the dark bitter tide,


s: And forgotten to pour in the only sweet drop.


s: Were they but dreams?  Upon the darkening world


s: Evening comes down, the wings of fire are furled,


s: On which the day soared to the sunny west:


s: The moon sits calmly, like a soul at rest,


s: All things in heaven wait on the solemn birth


s: Of night, but where has fled the happy dream


s: That at this hour, last night, our life did seem?


s: Where are the mountains with their tangled hair,


s: Where are the shadows of the solemn hills,


s: And the fresh music of the summer rills?


s: Where are the wood-paths, winding, long and steep,


s: And the great, glorious river, broad and deep,


s: And the thick copses, where soft breezes meet,


s: And the wild torrent's snowy, leaping feet,


s: The rustling, rocking boughs, the running streams,--


s: Where are they all? gone, gone! were they but dreams?


s: And where, oh where are the light footsteps gone,


s: That from the mountain-side came dancing down?


s: The voices full of mirth, the loving eyes,


s: The youth, the love, the life that revelled here,--


s: Are they too gone?--Upon Time's shadowy bier,


s: The pale, cold hours of joys now past, are laid,


s: Perhaps, not soon from memory's gaze to fade,


s: In all life's future store of bliss and pain.


s: From the bright eyes the sunshine may depart,


s: Youth flies--love dies--and from the joyous heart


s: Hope's gushing fountain ebbs too soon away,


s: Nor spares one drop for that disastrous day,


s: When from the barren waste of after life,


s: The weariness, the worldliness, the strife,


s: The soul looks o'er the desert of its way


s: The paradise, for which we vainly mourn,


s: The heaven, to which our ling'ring eyes still turn,


s: To which our footsteps never shall return.


s: Like wan moonlight wand'ring o'er, love,


s: It was ripe, and round, and sleek, love,


s: Thy beauty was more exquisite than aught


s: It was a radiant, heavenly beauty, caught


s: And though an angel now, thou still must bear


s: The lovely semblance that thou here didst wear.


s: Thy gentle thoughts, and holy, humble mind,


s: But with fine spirits, of some purer kind,


s: And sure they speak to thee that language now,


s: Which thou wert wont to speak to us below.


s: And crown life's baseness with a glorious wreath,


s: But fits, immortal soul! thy triumph still,


s: In that bright world where thou art gone to dwell.


s: Written among the ruins of the Sonnenberg.


s: Ruins as great as these, though not as old,


s: Can'st scarce through life have travelled many a year,


s: Or lack'st the spirit of a pilgrim here.


s: Youth hath its walls of strength, its towers of pride;


s: Love, its warm hearth-stones; Hope, its prospects wide;


s: Life's fortress in thee, held these one, and all,


s: And they have fallen to ruin, or shall fall.


s: Addressed to the Young Gentlemen leaving the Academy at Lenox,


s: Life is before ye--and while now ye stand


s: Fair smiles the way, where yet your feet have trod


s: But few light steps, upon a flowery sod;


s: Round ye are youth's green bowers, and to your eyes


s: Th' horizon's line joins earth with the bright skies;


s: Daring and triumph, pleasure, fame, and joy,


s: Friendship unwavering, love without alloy,


s: Brave thoughts of noble deeds, and glory won,


s: And if o'er the bright scene some shadows rise,


s: Far off they seem, at hand the sunshine lies;


s: The distant clouds, which of ye pause to fear?


s: Shall not a brightness gild them when more near?


s: Dismay and doubt ye know not, for the power


s: Of youth is strong within ye at this hour,


s: And the great mortal conflict seems to ye


s: Strong as ye are in youth, and hope, and faith,


s: Ye should sink down, and falter, "Give us death!"


s: Could the dread Sphinx's lips but once disclose,


s: Which must o'ertake ye, in your lifelong doom,


s: Well might ye cry, "Our cradle be our tomb!"


s: Could ye foresee your spirit's broken wings,


s: Earth's brightest triumphs what despised things,


s: Friendship how feeble, love how fierce a flame,


s: Your joy half sorrow, half your glory shame,


s: Hollowness, weariness, and, worst of all,


s: Self-scorn that pities not its own deep fall,


s: Fast gathering darkness, and fast waning light,--


s: Oh could ye see it all, ye might, ye might


s: Cower in the dust, unequal to the strife,


s: Ye cannot turn: then take ye up your load.


s: Not yours to tread, or leave the unknown way,


s: Ye must go o'er it, meet ye what ye may.


s: Gird up your souls within ye to the deed,


s: Angels, and fellow-spirits, bid ye speed!


s: What though the brightness dim, the pleasure fade,


s: The glory wane,--oh! not of these is made


s: The awful life that to your trust is given.


s: Mourn not the perishing of each fair toy,


s: To suffer, which is nobler than to dare;


s: Stand up and walk beneath it steadfastly;


s: Fail not for sorrow, falter not for sin,


s: But onward, upward, till the goal ye win;


s: God guard ye, and God guide ye on your way,


s: Young pilgrim warriors who set forth to-day!


s: Great God! from whom the meanest are not far.


s: Not in presumption of the daring spirit,


s: Make I my weeping prayer; in the deep want


s: Of utter loneliness, my God! I seek thee;


s: If the worm may creep up to thy fellowship,


s: Or dust, instinct with yearning, rise towards thee.


s: None that be kindred, none companion to me,


s: And the vast love, and harmony, and brotherhood,


s: Around me grow the trees, each by the other;


s: Innumerable leaves, each like the other,


s: Whisper and breathe, and live and move together.


s: Around me spring the flowers; each rosy cup


s: Hath sisters, leaning their fair cheeks against it.


s: But coupled in free fellowship, or mustering


s: The wide blue fields between the clouds;--the clouds


s: Shedding, like sympathy, reflected light.


s: To the great breast of the receiving sea:


s: Oh God! save I alone! then, let me come,


s: Good Father! to thy feet, when even as now,


s: Tears, that no human hand is near to wipe,


s: O'erbrim my eyes, oh wipe them, thou, my Father!


s: When in my heart the stores of its affections,


s: Piled up unused, locked fast, are like to burst


s: The fleshly casket, that may not contain them,


s: Let me come nigh to thee;--accept thou them,


s: When in my spirit burns the fire, the power,


s: That have made men utter the words of angels,


s: And none are near to bid me speak and live:


s: The hymns resounding through my troubled mind,


s: The sighs and sorrows of my lonely heart,


s: The tears, and weeping, of my weary eyes:


s: Be thou my fellow, glorious, gracious God!


s: And fit me for such fellowship with thee!


s: What shall I do with all the days and hours


s: That must be counted ere I see thy face?


s: How shall I charm the interval that lowers


s: Between this time and that sweet time of grace?


s: Shall I in slumber steep each weary sense,


s: Into past days, and with some fond pretence


s: Shall love for thee lay on my soul the sin


s: Of casting from me God's great gift of time;


s: Shall I these mists of memory locked within,


s: Leave, and forget, life's purposes sublime?


s: Oh! how, or by what means, may I contrive


s: To bring the hour that brings thee back more near?


s: How may I teach my drooping hope to live


s: Until that blessed time, and thou art here?


s: I'll tell thee: for thy sake, I will lay hold


s: Of all good aims, and consecrate to thee,


s: In worthy deeds, each moment that is told


s: While thou, beloved one! art far from me.


s: For thee I will arouse my thoughts to try


s: All heavenward flights, all high and holy strains;


s: Through these long hours, nor call their minutes pains.


s: I will this dreary blank of absence make


s: A noble task time, and will therein strive


s: More good than I have won, since yet I live.


s: A thousand graces which shall thus be thine;


s: And thy dear thought an influence divine.


s: When the bright sun back on his yearly road


s: Comes towards us, his great glory seems to me,


s: When from the south the gentle winds do blow,


s: Calling the flowers that sleep beneath the earth,


s: It sounds like sweetest music, that doth go


s: Before thy coming, full of love and mirth.


s: To greet the virgin daughter of the year,


s: For with the spring thou shalt return again;


s: Therefore the wind, the flower, and clear sunshine,


s: A love and welcome not their own, but thine.


s: Struggle not with thy life!--the heavy doom


s: Resist not, it will bow thee like a slave:


s: Strive not! thou shalt not conquer; to thy tomb


s: Thou shalt go crushed, and ground, though ne'er so brave.


s: Complain not of thy life!--for what art thou


s: More than thy fellows, that thou should'st not weep?


s: Brave thoughts still lodge beneath a furrowed brow,


s: And the way-wearied have the sweetest sleep.


s: Marvel not at thy life!--patience shall see


s: The perfect work of wisdom to her given;


s: Hold fast thy soul through this high mystery,


s: And it shall lead thee to the gates of heaven.


s: What recks the sun, how weep the heavy flowers


s: What recks he, how they mourn, through those dark hours,


s: Till back again he leads the smiling day?


s: As lifts each watery bloom its tearful eye,


s: And blesses from its lowly seat, the god,


s: In his great glory he goes through the sky,


s: And recks not of the blessing from the sod.


s: And what is it to thee, oh, thou, my fate!


s: That all my hope, and joy, remains with thee?


s: That thy returning, brings back life to me?


s: I blame not thee, for all the strife, and woe,


s: That for thy sake daily disturbs my life;


s: I blame not thee, that Heaven has made me so,


s: That all the love I can, is woe, and strife.


s: I blame not thee, that I may ne'er impart


s: The tempest, and the death, and the despair,


s: That words, and looks, of thine make in my heart,


s: And turn by turn, riot and stagnate there.


s: Oh! I have found my sin's sharp scourge in thee,


s: For loving thee, as one should love but Heaven;


s: Therefore, oh, thou beloved! I blame not thee,


s: The fountain of my life, which flowed so free,


s: The plenteous waves, which brimming gushed along,


s: Bright, deep, and swift, with a perpetual song,


s: Doubtless have long since seemed dried up to thee:


s: How should they not? from the shrunk, narrow bed,


s: Where once that glory flowed, have ebbed away


s: Light, life, and motion, and along its way


s: The dull stream slowly creeps a shallow thread,--


s: Yet, at the hidden source, if hands unblest


s: Disturb the wells whence that sad stream takes birth,


s: The swollen waters once again gush forth,


s: Dark, bitter floods, rolling in wild unrest.


s: From rocky hills, where climbs the vine;


s: Bare mountain scalps, green forest bowers;


s: Their splendours o'er the mountains shed,


s: That o'er the scene white moonlight fell,


s: From Maintz, where many a warrior priest


s: Still, middle night, all wrapped in sleep,


s: Of the full moon: broad, brimming, bright,


s: Foamed round that whirlpool dread and deep,


s: Which through these woods, in other days,


s: Her sad eyes turned to heaven, where thou


s: Once more shalt hear love's early vow,--


s: Till death the nun's drear oath had broken.


s: Like storm-cloud rattling through the sky:


s: Beneath whose dark gray veils, once more


s: Sing o'er to thee thy own sweet numbers.


s: These evening mists of doubt and sorrow.


s: Say thou not sadly, "never," and "no more,"


s: But from thy lips banish those falsest words;


s: While life remains that which was thine before


s: Again may be thine; in Time's storehouse lie


s: Days, hours, and moments, that have unknown hoards


s: Smiles, come with tears; therefore with hopeful eye


s: Look thou on dear things, though they turn away,


s: For thou and they, perchance, some future day


s: Shall meet again, and the gone bliss return;


s: For its departure then make thou no mourn,


s: But with stout heart bid what thou lov'st farewell;


s: That which the past hath given the future gives as well.


s: Though thou return unto the former things,


s: Fields, woods, and gardens, where thy feet have strayed


s: In other days, and not a bough, branch, blade


s: Of tree, or meadow, but the same appears


s: As when thou lovedst them in former years,


s: They shall not _seem_ the same; the spirit brings


s: Change from the inward, though the outward be


s: E'en as it was, when thou didst weep to see


s: It last, and spak'st that prophecy of pain,


s: "Farewell!  I shall not look on ye again!"


s: And so thou never didst--no, though e'en now


s: Thine eyes behold all they so loved of yore,


s: The _Thou_ that did behold them then, no more


s: Lives in this world, it is another Thou.


s: Like one who walketh in a plenteous land,


s: Through sunny meadows, where the summer bees


s: Feed in the thyme and clover; on each hand


s: Fair gardens lying, where of fruit and flower


s: The bounteous season hath poured out its dower:


s: Where saffron skies roof in the earth with light,


s: And birds sing thankfully towards Heaven, while he


s: With a sad heart walks through this jubilee,


s: Stretches a thirsty desert of gray sand,


s: Where all the air is one thick, leaden blight,


s: Where all things dwarf and dwindle,--so walk I,


s: Through my rich, present life, to what beyond doth lie.


s: Blaspheme not thou thy sacred life, nor turn


s: O'er joys that God hath for a season lent,


s: Perchance to try thy spirit, and its bent,


s: Effeminate soul and base! weakly to mourn.


s: There lies no desert in the land of life,


s: For e'en that tract that barrenest doth seem,


s: Laboured of thee in faith and hope, shall teem


s: With heavenly harvests and rich gatherings, rife.


s: Haply no more, music, and mirth and love,


s: And glorious things of old and younger art,


s: Shall of thy days make one perpetual feast;


s: But when these bright companions all depart,


s: Of Hope, and thou shalt hear the angels sing above.


s: But to be still! oh, but to cease awhile


s: The panting breath and hurrying steps of life,


s: The sights, the sounds, the struggle, and the strife


s: Of action, fretting on the tightened chain


s: Of rough existence; all that is not pain,


s: To shut the banging doors and windows wide,


s: Of restless sense, and let the soul abide


s: Gathering its strength up to pursue the race;


s: Oh, Heavens! to rest a moment, but to rest


s: From this quick, gasping life, were to be blest!


s: Thou who hast yet but half the way gone o'er:


s: Get up, and lift thy burthen: lo, before


s: Thy feet the road goes stretching far away.


s: If thou already faint, who hast but come


s: Through half thy pilgrimage, with fellows gay,


s: Love, youth, and hope, under the rosy bloom


s: And temperate airs, of early breaking day;


s: Look yonder, how the heavens stoop and gloom,


s: There cease the trees to shade, the flowers to spring,


s: And the angels leave thee; what wilt thou become


s: Through yon drear stretch of dismal wandering,


s: Lonely and dark?  I shall take courage, friend,


s: For comes not every step more near the end?


s: Wake! for the Golden Cat has put to flight


s: The Mouse of Darkness with his Paw of Light:


s: Which means, in Plain and simple every-day


s: They say the Early Bird the Worm shall taste.


s: Then rise, O Kitten! Wherefore, sleeping, waste


s: Will soon be on the Flutter--O make haste!


s: The Early Bird has gone, and with him ta'en


s: The Early Worm--Alas! the Moral's plain,


s: O Senseless Worm! Thus, thus we are repaid


s: The Mouse makes merry 'mid the Larder Shelves,


s: The Bird for Dinner in the Garden delves.


s: One half so toothsome as they are Themselves.


s: That helpless lies upon the Pantry Shelf--


s: Lift not your eyes to It for help, for It


s: The Ball no question makes of Ayes or Noes,


s: But right or left, as strikes the Kitten, goes;


s: It still returneth--Goodness only knows!


s: A Secret Presence that my likeness feigns,


s: And yet, quicksilver-like, eludes my pains--


s: In vain I look for Him behind the glass;


s: He is not there, and yet He still remains.


s: A senseless Something to resist the stroke


s: Are Angel Kittens who have lost their way,


s: Sometimes I think perchance that Allah may,


s: The Tails He marred in making, and they grew


s: There came an Angel Shape and offered me


s: A Fragrant Plant and bid me taste of it.


s: 'Twas that reviving Herb, that Spicy Weed,


s: The Cat-Nip. Tho' 'tis good in time of need,


s: Strange--is it not?--that of the numbers who


s: Before me passed this Door of Darkness thro',


s: Ofttimes I've waited here an hour or two.


s: 'Tis but a Tent where takes his one Night's Rest


s: A Rodent to the Realms of Death address'd,


s: When Cook, arising, looks for him and then--


s: Baits, and prepares it for another Guest.


s: The Courts where Jamshýd gloried and drank deep.


s: Who Jamshýd is--nor shall it break my sleep.


s: Hither and thither moved or checked or weighed,


s: And one by one back in the Ice Chest laid.


s: What if the Sole could fling the Ice aside,


s: And with me to some Area's haven glide--


s: Were't not a Shame, were't not a shame for it


s: Mew for the proper Bowl of Milk to come.


s: Ah, take the Fish and let your Credit go,


s: One thing is certain: tho' this Stolen Bite


s: Should be my last and Wrath consume me quite,


s: And then and then came Cook--with Hose in hand--


s: What without asking hither harried whence,


s: And without asking whither harried hence--


s: Heaven, but the vision of a Flowing Bowl;


s: Heard in the hungry Darkness, where Myself,


s: While clings my Being;--let the Canine Flout


s: Till his Bass Voice be pitched to such loud key


s: Up from the Basement to the Seventh Flat


s: I rose, and on the Crown of Fashion sat,


s: But not the Master's angry Bawl of "Scat!"


s: With my own Paw I wrought to make it flow,


s: And This was all the Harvest that I reaped:


s: We come like Kittens and like Cats we go.


s: Why be this Ink the Fount of Wit?--who dare


s: Blaspheme the glistening Pen-drink as a snare?


s: A Blessing?--I should spread it, should I not?


s: And if a Curse--why, then upset it!--there!


s: I wrought strange shapes from Máh to Máhi, yet


s: I know not what I wrote, nor why they chased.


s: O, but the long, long time their Rage shall last,


s: Which, tho' they call to supper, I shall heed


s: As a Stone Cat should heed a Pebble cast.


s: They call the Dog--Heed not his angry Cry;


s: Not all his Threats can make me budge one bit,


s: Of whirling Shadow Shapes that come and go


s: Me-ward thro' Moon illumined Darkness hurled,


s: The Backyard Fence and heard great Argument


s: To grasp this Sorry Scheme of things entire,


s: Would we not shatter it to bits, and then


s: Tho' Two and Two make Four by rule of line,


s: Shall ne'er be floored by anything but Nine.


s: And fear not lest Existence shut the Door


s: The Cream of Life from out your Bowl shall pour


s: Nine times--ere it lie broken on the Floor.


s: So, if the Fish you Steal--the Cream you drink--


s: Ends in what all begins and ends in, Think,


s: Unless the Stern Recorder points to Nine,


s: Tho' They would drown you--still you shall not sink.


s: It rained outside right into Hadrian's soul.


s: On the low couch, on whose denuded whole,


s: To Hadrian's eyes, that at their seeing bled,


s: The shadowy light of Death's eclipse was shed.


s: The boy lay dead and the day seemed a night


s: Outside. The rain fell like a sick affright


s: Through the mind's galleries of their past delight


s: O hands that clasped erewhile Hadrian's warm hands,


s: O hair bound erstwhile with the pressing bands!


s: O lips whose opening redness erst could strike


s: Lust's seats with a soiled art's variety!


s: O fingers skilled in things not to be named!


s: O tongue which, counter-tongued, the throbbed brows flamed!


s: Raged conciousness's spilled suspension!


s: These things are things that now must be no more.


s: Sinks by the couch. His grief is like a rage,


s: For the gods take away the life they give


s: He weeps and knows that every future age


s: A thousand unborn eyes weep with his misery.


s: Seeing him again, having lived, dead again,


s: Lends her great skyey grief now to be blent


s: In vain shall kisses on that nippled point


s: Covering his heart-beats' silent place implore


s: His life again to ope his eyes and feel her


s: Presence along his veins this fortress hold


s: With growing joy that body's lusting lore.


s: The rain falls, and he lies like one who hath


s: And lies awake waiting their hot return.


s: But all his vices' art is now with Death:


s: He lies with her, whose sex cannot him move,


s: Whose hand, were't not cold, still ne'er his could burn.


s: Lilies were on his cheeks and roses too.


s: His eyes were sad in joy sometimes. He said


s: Love to be more love than love can be, «Kiss


s: My eyelids till my closed eyes seem to guess


s: The kiss they feel laid in my heart's breast-bed.»


s: O Hadrian, what shall now thy cold life be?


s: Now are thy nights widowed of love and kisses,


s: Now are thy days robbed of the night's awaiting,


s: Now are thy lips purposeless and thy blisses


s: No longer of the size of thy life, mating


s: Thy empire with thy love's bold tendernesses.


s: Now are thy doors closed upon beauty and joy.


s: Lo, lift thine eyes and see the lovely boy!


s: There was he wont thy dangling sense to cloy,


s: With newer uncloying till thy senses bled.


s: Of vices thy worn spine was hurt to follow.


s: Sometimes it seemed to thee that all was hollow


s: In sense in each new straining of sucked lust.


s: Then still new crimes of fancy would he call


s: To thy shaken flesh, and thou wouldst tremble and fall


s: Back on thy cushions with thy mind's sense hushed.


s: He had that art, of love's arts most unholy,


s: Of being lithely sad among lust's rages.


s: Now the Nile gave him up, the eternal Nile.


s: Under his wet locks Death's blue paleness wages


s: Even as he thinks, the lust that is no more


s: His senses by the hand, and his flesh quakes


s: Till all becomes again what 'twas before.


s: The dead body on the bed gets up and lives


s: Along his every nerve ripped up and twanged,


s: Utters caresses which flit off, yet just


s: Remain enough to bleed his last nerve's strand,


s: He rises, mad, and looks upon his lover,


s: That now can love nothing but what none know.


s: Then his cold lips run all the body over--


s: His lips that scarce remember their warmth, now


s: So blent with feeling the death they behold;


s: And so ice-senseless are his lips that, lo!,


s: He scarce tastes death from the dead body's cold,


s: But it seems both are dead or living both


s: And love is still the Presence and the Mover.


s: Then his lips cease on the other lips' cold sloth.


s: But there the wanting breath reminds his lips


s: That between him and his boy-love the mist


s: That comes out of the gods has crept. The tips


s: Of his fingers, still idly tickling, list


s: To some flesh-response to their purple mood.


s: But their love-orison is not understood.


s: The god is dead whose cult was to be kissed!


s: He lifts his hand up to where heaven should be


s: And cries on the mute gods to know his pain.


s: Lo, list!, o divine watchers of our glee


s: And sorrow!, list!, he will yield up his reign.


s: He will live in the deserts and be parched


s: On the hot sands, he will be beggar and slave;


s: But give again the boy to be arm-reached!


s: Forego that space ye meant to be his grave!


s: Take all the female beauties of the earth!


s: But, by sweet Ganymede, that Jove found worth


s: His cup at his high festivals, and spill


s: His fairer vice wherefrom comes newer birth--,


s: To dust, o father of the gods!, but spare


s: This boy and his white body and golden hair.


s: That he should be, and out of jealous care


s: From Hadrian's arms to thine his beauty steal'st.


s: He was a kitten playing with lust, playing


s: With his own and with Hadrian's, sometimes one


s: And sometimes two, now splitting, now one grown,


s: Now leaving lust, now lust's high lusts delaying,


s: Now eyeing lust not wide, but from askance


s: Jumping round on lust's half-unexpectance;


s: Then softly gripping, then with fury holding,


s: Now playfully playing, now seriously, now lying


s: By the side of lust looking at it, now spying


s: Which way to take lust in his lust's withholding.


s: Thus did the hours slide from their tangled hands


s: And from their mixed limbs the moments slip.


s: Now were his arms dead leaves, now iron bands,


s: Now were his lips cups, now the things that sip,


s: Now were his eyes too closed, and now too open,


s: Now were his ways such as none thought might happen,


s: Now were his arts a feather and now a whip.


s: Offered to gods that do to presence bend.


s: Sometimes he was adorned and made to don


s: And now was he Apollo, white and golden;


s: Now as Jove sate he in mock-judgment over


s: The presence at his feet of his slaved lover;


s: Now was he an acted rite, by one beholden,


s: Too cold! too cold! and love as cold as he.


s: Love wanders through the memories of his vice


s: As through a labyrinth, in sad madness glad,


s: And now calls on his name and bids him rise,


s: That is i'th'heart like faces in the gloaming--


s: Mere shining shadows of the forms they had.


s: And put the sense of wetness in the air.


s: He saw this room and all in it from far.


s: He saw the couch, the boy and his own frame


s: Cast down against the couch, and he became


s: These words unuttered, save to his soul's dread:


s: «I shall build thee a statue that will be


s: Though death with subtle uncovering hands remove


s: The apparel of life and empire from our love,


s: Yet its nude statue-soul of lust made spirit


s: All future times, whether they will't or not,


s: Shall, like a curse-seeming god's boon earth-brought,


s: «Ay, this thy statue shall I build, and set


s: Upon the pinnacle of being-thine. Let Time


s: Eat it from life, or with men's violence fret


s: Ay, let that be! Our love shall stand so great


s: Our love's incarnate and discarnate essence,


s: Our love shall speak its joy and woe, death-blent,


s: «The memory of our love shall bridge the ages.


s: It shall loom white out of the past and be


s: In every heart the future shall give rages


s: «Yet oh that this were needed not, and thou


s: Would all this were a thing thou mightest now


s: Smile at from under thy death-mocking lids


s: And wonder that I should so put a strife


s: Twixt me and gods for thy lost presence bright;


s: Were there nought in this but my empty dole


s: With what my dreaming pain to hope forbids».


s: Thus went he, like a lover who is waiting,


s: From place to place in his dim doubting mind.


s: Now was his hope a great bulk of will fating


s: Its wish to being, now felt he he was blind


s: In some point of his seen wish undefined.


s: When love meets death we know not what to feel.


s: When death foils love we know not what to know.


s: Now did his doubt hope, now did his hope doubt.


s: Now what his wish dreamed the dream's sense did flout


s: Then again the gods fanned love's darkening glow.


s: That the high gods, that made me emperor be,


s: My wish that thou shouldst live for e'er and stand


s: A fleshly presence on their better land,


s: More beautiful and as beautiful, for there


s: Nor pain our hearts with change and time and strife.


s: «Love, love, my love! thou art already a god.


s: This thought of mine, which I a wish believe,


s: By the great gods, that love love and can give


s: To mortal hearts, under the shape of wishes--


s: Of wishes strong, having imperial reaches--


s: Our life-imprisoned life, our sense-bound sense.


s: Thou walkest and art perfect, yet art thou,


s: For thou needst no excess of thee to don


s: «My heart is singing like a morning bird.


s: A great hope from the gods comes down to me


s: And bids my heart to subtler sense be stirred


s: «My love, my love! My god-love! Let me kiss


s: On thy cold lips thy hot lips now immortal,


s: Greeting thee at Death's portal's happiness,


s: For to the gods Death's portal is Life's portal.


s: Of that part of me that, like a great sea,


s: Girds in me a great red empire more broad


s: Than all the lands and peoples that are in


s: My power's reach. Thus art thou myself made


s: In that great stretch Olympic that betrays


s: The true-wholed gods present in river and glade


s: And hours eternal in its different days.


s: «So strong my love is that it is thyself,


s: That girds round life and its unduring pelf.


s: Even as thou wert in life, thy corporal shade


s: Or one whit false to fleshly presence prove.


s: Creeds may arise and pass, and passions change,


s: Other ways may be born out of Time's dream,


s: But this our love, made but thy body, 'll range