The white sun twinkling like the dawn Out of a speckled cloud. Sweet views which in our world above Were imaged in the water's love Of that fair forest green : And all was interfused beneath With an Elysian glow, An atmosphere without a breath, A softer day below. Like one beloved, the scene had lent To the dark water's breast Its every leaf and lineament With more than truth exprest; 80 Until an envious wind crept by, Like an unwelcome thought Which from the mind's too faithful eye -Though thou art ever fair and kind, 85 The forests ever green, Than calm in waters seen! BY THE SEA. It is a beauteous evening, calm and free; Less oft is peace in Shelley's mind P. B. Shelley. CCCIX. CII. The gentleness of heaven is on the Sea: 5 10 Dear child! dear girl! that walkest with me here, CIII. SONG TO THE EVENING STAR. Star that bringest home the bee, CCCX. Appearing when Heaven's breath and brow 5 Come to the luxuriant skies, Whilst the landscape's odours rise, Whilst far-off lowing herds are heard From cottages whose smoke unstirr’d Star of love's soft interviews, 10 15 CIV. T. Campbell. CCCXI. DATUR HORA QUIETI. The sun upon the lake is low, The hills have evening's deepest glow, CV. Now all whom varied toil and care The noble dame, on turret high, 5 10 Upon the footpath watches now The village maid, with hand on brow 15 CVI. For Colin's darkening plaid. Now to their mates the wild swans row, And to the thicket wanders slow The hind beside the hart. The woodlark at his partner's side All meet whom day and care divide, Sir W. Scott. CCCXII. TO THE MOON. Art thou pale for weariness Of climbing heaven, and gazing on the earth, Among the stars that have a different birth,- P. B. Shelley. TO SLEEP. 5 CCCXIII. A flock of sheep that leisurely pass by I've thought of all by turns, and yet do lie Even thus last night, and two nights more I lay, 5 Without Thee what is all the morning's wealth? CVII. THE SOLDIER'S DREAM. 10 CCCXIV. Our bugles sang truce, for the night-cloud had lower'd, And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky; And thousands had sunk on the ground overpower'd, The weary to sleep, and the wounded to die. When reposing that night on my pallet of straw By the wolf-scaring faggot that guarded the slain, At the dead of the night a sweet Vision I saw; And thrice ere the morning I dreamt it again. Methought from the battle-field's dreadful array To the home of my fathers, that welcomed me back. I flew to the pleasant fields traversed so oft In life's morning march, when my bosom was young; I heard my own mountain-goats bleating aloft, 5 10 15 And knew the sweet strain that the corn-reapers sung. Then pledged we the wine-cup, and fondly I swore 'Stay-stay with us!-rest!-thou art weary and worn !'- T. Campbell. 20 CVIII. A DREAM OF THE UNKNOWN. I dream'd that as I wander'd by the way Mix'd with a sound of waters murmuring Its green arms round the bosom of the stream, CCCXV. But kiss'd it and then fled, as Thou mightest in dream. There grew pied wind-flowers and violets, 5 10 The constellated flower that never sets; Faint oxlips; tender blue-bells, at whose birth The sod scarce heaved; and that tall flower that wets Its mother's face with heaven-collected tears, 15 And in the warm hedge grew lush eglantine, Green cow-bind and the moonlight-colour'd May, And cherry-blossoms, and white cups, whose wine Was the bright dew yet drain'd not by the day; And wild roses, and ivy serpentine 20 With its dark buds and leaves, wandering astray; And flowers azure, black, and streak'd with gold, Fairer than any waken'd eyes behold. And nearer to the river's trembling edge There grew broad flag-flowers, purple prank'd with white, And starry river-buds among the sedge, 26 And floating water-lilies, broad and bright, Which lit the oak that overhung the hedge With moonlight beams of their own watery light; And bulrushes, and reeds of such deep green 30 As soothed the dazzled eye with sober sheen. Methought that of these visionary flowers That the same hues, which in their natural bowers I hasten'd to the spot whence I had come P. B. Shelley. 35 |