They once were gods and heroes--and beheld As the blest guardians of their native scene; And hearts of warriors, sages, bards, have swelled With awe that owned their sovereignty of mien.
Ages have vanished since those hearts were cold. And still those shattered forms retain their godlike mould.
'Midst their bright kindred, from their marble throne,
They have looked down on thousand storms of time.
Surviving power, and fame, and freedom flown, They still remained, still tranquilly sublime! Till mortal hands the heaven conclave marred. The Olympian groups have sunk, and are forgot, Not e'en their dust could weeping Athens guard- But these were destined to a nobler lot! And they have borne, to light another land, The quenchless ray that soon shall gloriously ex pand.
Phidias! supreme in thought! what hand but thine,
In human works thus blending earth and heaven, O'er nature's truth hath shed that grace divine, To mortal form immortal grandeur given?
What soul but thine infusing all its power,
In these last monuments of matchless days, Could, from their ruins, bid young Genius tower, And Hope aspire to more exalted praise? And guide deep Thought to that secluded height Where excellence is throned in purity of light.
I FILL this cup to one made up Of loveliness alone,
A woman, of her gentle sex The seeming paragon; To whom the better elements And kindly stars have given A form so fair, that, like the air, 'Tis less of earth than heaven.
Her very tone is music's own, Like those of morning birds; And something more than melody Dwells ever in her words: The coinage of her heart are they, And from her lips each flows, As one may see the burden'd bee Forth issue from the roso.
Affections are as thoughts to her, The measures of her hours; Her feelings have the fragrancy, The freshness of young flowers. And lovely passions, changing oft, So fill her, she appears
The image of themselves by turns- The idol of past years!
Of her bright face one glance will trace A picture on the brain,
And of her voice in echoing hearts
A sound must long remain;
memory, such as mine of her,
So very much endears,
When death is nigh my latest sigh Will not be life's, but hers.
I fill'd this cup to one made up
Of loveliness alone,
A woman, of her gentle sex
The seeming paragon
Her health and would on earth there stood,
Some more of such a frame,
That life might be all poetry,
And weariness a name.
AT INVERSNEYDE, UPON LOCH LOMOND.
SWEET Highland Girl, a very shower Of beauty is thy earthly dower! Twice seven consenting years have shed Their utmost bounty on thy head;
And these gray rocks, this household lawn; These trees, a veil just half withdrawn ; This fall of water that doth make
A murmur near the silent lake; This little bay, a quiet road That holds in shelter thy abode; In truth together do ye seem
Like something fashioned in a dream; Such forms as from their covert peep When earthly cares are laid asleep; Yet, dream and vision as thou art, I bless thee with a human heart: God shield thee to thy latest years! I neither know thee nor thy peers; And yet my eyes are filled with tears.
With earnest feeling I shall pray For thee when I am far away: For never saw I mien, or face, In which more plainly I could trace
Benignity and home-bred sense Ripening in perfect innocence. Here, scattered like a random seed, Remote from men, thou dost not need The embarrassed look of shy distress, And maidenly shamefacedness: Thou wear'st upon thy forehead clear The freedom of a mountaineer. A face with gladness overspread! Sweet looks, by human kindness bred! And seemliness complete, that sways Thy courtesies, about thee plays; With no restraint, but such as springs From quick and eager visitings Of thoughts, that lie beyond the reach Of thy few words of English speech: A bondage sweetly brooked, a strife That gives thy gestures grace and life! So have I, not unmoved in mind, Seen birds of tempest-loving kind, Thus beating up against the wind.
What hand but would a garland cull For thee who art so beautiful! O happy pleasure! here to dwell Beside thee in some healthy dell; Adopt your homely ways and dress- A shepherd-thou a shepherdess! But I could frame a wish for thee More like a grave reality:
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