4. THE RETREAT. HAPPY those early days, when I And looking back at that short space Could see a glimpse of His bright face; When on some gilded cloud or flower My gazing soul would dwell an hour, Before I taught my tongue to wound Some men a forward motion love, 66 Drop thy pipe, thy happy pipe, "Piper, sit thee down and write And I made a rural pen, - WILLIAM BLAKE. 6. THE ROMANCE OF THE SWAN'S NEST. "So the dreams depart, So the fading phantoms flee, And the sharp reality Now must act its part." - WESTWOOD'S Beads from a Rosary. I. LITTLE Ellie sits alone 'Mid the beeches of a meadow, By a stream-side on the grass, II. She has thrown her bonnet by, Now she holds them nakedly In her hands, all sleek and dripping, III. Little Ellie sits alone, And the smile she softly uses Fills the silence like a speech, IV. Little Ellie in her smile Chooses, "I will have a lover, Riding on a steed of steeds: He shall love me without guile, And to him I will discover The swan's nest among the reeds. V. "And the steed shall be red-roan, And the lover shall be noble, With an eye that takes the breath. And the lute he plays upon Shall strike ladies into trouble, As his sword strikes men to death. VI. "And the steed it shall be shod All in silver, housed in azure; And the mane shall swim the wind; And the hoofs along the sod Shall flash onward, and keep measure, VII. "But my lover will not prize All the glory that he rides in, When he gazes in my face. He will say, 'O Love, thine eyes VIII. "Then, ay, then he shall kneel low, For the world must love and fear him IX. "Then he will arise so pale, I shall feel my own lips tremble X. "Then he'll ride among the hills To make straight distorted wills, XI. "Three times shall a young foot-page Swim the stream, and climb the mountain, 'Lo! my master sends this gage, What wilt thou exchange for it?' |