548 WHE THE STONY HEART HENCE comes my love?-O heart, disclose! 'twas from her cheeks that shame the rose; from lips that spoil the ruby's praise, from eyes that mock the diamond's blaze: whence comes my woe, as freely own; ah me! 'twas from a heart like stone. The blushing cheek speaks modest mind, the lips befitting words most kind: the eye does tempt to love's desire, and seems to say, 'tis Cupid's fire: yet all so fair but speak my moan, sith nought doth say the heart of stone. Why thus, my love, so kindly speak sweet eye, sweet lip, sweet blushing cheek, yet not a heart to save my pain? O Venus! take thy gifts again: make not so fair to cause our moan, 549 J. HARINGTON 'WHY THE ADOPTED CHILD HY wouldst thou leave me, O gentle child? thy home on the mountain is bleak and wild, a straw-roofed cabin with lowly wall mine is a fair and a pillared hall, where many an image of marble gleams, 'Content thee, boy, in my bower to dwell, here are sweet sounds which thou lovest well; harps which the wandering breezes tune, whose voice was ne'er in thy mountains heard.' F. HEMANS 550 551 THE HYMN OF APOLLO HE sunbeams are my shafts, with which I kill deceit, that loves the night and fears the day; all men, who do or even imagine ill fly me, and from the glory of my ray good minds and open actions take new might, I feed the clouds, the rainbows, and the flowers, are cinctured with my power as with a robe; all prophecy, all medicine are mine, P. B. SHELLEY SUNSET VIEWED FROM THE PIRAEUS SLOW LOW sinks, more lovely ere his race be run, not as in northern climes obscurely bright, o'er the hushed deep the yellow beam he throws, LORD BYRON 5.52 553 554 THE DYING CHRISTIAN TO HIS SOUL VITAL spark of heavenly flame, quit, O quit this mortal frame! Hark, they whisper; angels say steals my senses, shuts my sight, The world recedes; it disappears! lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly! O Death, where is thy sting? A DROP OF DEW dew, SEE how the orient de' of the morn into the blowing roses, yet careless of its mansion new, and in its little globe's extent scarce touching where it lies; but gazing back upon the skies shines with a mournful light: because so long divided from the sphere. trembling lest it grow impure; till the warm sun pities its pain, and to the skies exhales it back again. So the soul, that drop, that ray, of the clear fountain of eternal day, A. POPE 555 could it within the human flower be seen, shuns the sweet leaves and blossoms green; does, in its pure and circling thoughts, express In how coy a figure wound, it all about does upward bend. Such did the manna's sacred dew distil, A. MARVELL THE FISHERMEN'S SONG fish stir in our heaving net, Nthe sky is dark and the night is wet, and we must ply the lusty oar, for the tide is ebbing from the shore: so kindly stored for our return. Our boat is small, and the tempest raves; we'll quaff our bowl and mock the blast. 556 LAODAMIA WITH sacrifice before the rising morn WITH vows have I made by fruitless hope inspired ; and from the infernal gods, 'mid shades forlorn of night, my slaughtered lord have I required: celestial pity I again implore;— restore him to my sight-great Jove, restore!' So speaking, and by fervent love endowed with faith, the Suppliant heavenward lifts her hands; while, like the sun emerging from a cloud, her countenance brightens-and her eye expands; her bosom heaves and spreads, her stature grows; and she expects the issue in repose. O terror! what hath she perceived?-O joy! 557 Mild Hermes spake-and touched her with his wand that calms all fear; 'Such grace hath crowned thy prayer, Laodamia, that at Jove's command thy husband walks the paths of upper air: he comes to tarry with thee three hours' space; Forth sprang the impassioned Queen her Lord to clasp; 'Protesilaus, lo! thy guide is 'gone! speak, and the floor thou tread'st on will rejoice. |