By Indolence and Fancy brought,
A youthful Bard, "unknown to Fame,"
Wooes the Queen of Solemn Thought,
And heaves the gentle mis'ry of a sigh
Gazing with tearful eye,
As round our sandy grot appear
Many a rudely sculptur'd name
To pensive Mem'ry dear!
Weaving gay dreams of sunny-tinctur'd hue
We glance before his view:
O'er his hush'd soul our soothing witch'ries shed,
And twine our faery garlands round his head.
When Evening's dusky car
Crown'd with her dewy star
Steals o'er the fading sky in shadowy flight;
On leaves of aspen trees
We tremble to the breeze,
Veil'd from the grosser ken of mortal sight.
Or, haply at the visionary hour,
Along our wild sequester'd walk,
We listen to th' enamour'd rustic's talk;
Heave with the heavings of the maiden's
Where young-eyed Loves have built their turtle
Or guide of soul-subduing power
Th' electric flash, that from the melting eye Darts the fond question and the soft reply.
Or through the mystic ringlets of the vale
We flash our faery feet in gamesome prank;
Or, silent-sandall'd, pay our defter court
Circling the spirit of the western gale,
Where, wearied with the flower-caressing-
sport,
Supine he slumbers on a violet bank;
Then with quaint music hymn the parting gleam,
By lonely Otter's sleep-persuading stream;
Or where his wave with loud unquiet song
Dash'd o'er the rocky channel froths along;
Or where, his silver waters smooth'd to rest,
The tall tree's shadow sleeps upon his breast.
Hence! thou lingering, Light!
Eve saddens into night.
Mother of wildly-working dreams! we view
The sombre Hours, that round thee stand
With down-cast eyes (a duteous band!)
Their dark robes dripping with the heavy
dew.
Sorceress of the ebon throne !
Thy power the Pixies own,
When round thy raven brow
Heaven's lucent roses glow,
And clouds, in watry colours drest,
Float in light drapery o'er thy sable vest;
What time the pale moon sheds a softer day
Mellowing the woods beneath its pensive
For mid the quiv'ring light 'tis ours to play,
Aye dancing to the cadence of the stream.
Welcome, Ladies! to the cell,
Where the blameless Pixies dwell.
But thou, sweet Nymph! proclaim'd our Faery
With what obeisance meet
Thy presence shall we greet?
For lo! attendant on thy steps are seen
Graceful Ease in artless stole,
And white-rob'd Purity of soul,
With Honour's softer mien;
Mirth of the loosely-flowing hair,
And meek-ey'd Pity eloquently fair,
Whose tearful cheeks are lovely to the view,
As snow-drop wet with dew.
Unboastful Maid! tho' now the lily pale
Transparent grace thy beauties meek;
Yet ere again along th' impurpling vale,
The purpling vale and elfin-haunted grove,
Young Zephyr his fresh flowers profusely
throws,
We'll tinge with livelier hues thy cheek!
And haply from the nectar-breathing rose
Extract a blush for Love!
MAID of my love! sweet Genevieve *
In beauty's light you glide along :
Your eye is like the star of eve,
And sweet your voice, as Seraph's song.
Yet not your heavenly beauty gives
This heart with passion soft to glow:
Within your soul a voice there lives!
It bids you hear the tale of woe.
When sinking low the Suff'rer wan
Beholds no hand outstrecht to save,
Fair, as the bosom of the Swan
That rises graceful o'er the wave,
I've seen your breast with pity heave,
And therefore love I you, sweet Genevieve!
*This little poem was written when the author was a boy.
WHOM THE AUTHOR HAD KNOWN IN THE DAYS OF HER INNOCENCE.
MYRTLE leaf, that ill besped
Pinest in the gladsome ray,
Soil'd beneath the common tread
Far from thy protecting spray!
When the partridge o'er the sheaf
Whirr'd along the yellow vale,
Sad, I saw thee, heedless leaf!
Love the dalliance of the gale.
Lightly didst thou, foolish thing!
Heave and flutter to his sighs,
While the Flatt'rer on his wing
Woo'd and whisper'd thee to rise.
Gaily from thy mother stalk
Wert thou danc'd and wafted high;
Soon on this unshelter'd walk
Flung to fade, to rot and die!
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