And glimpsing over these, just seen, 7. When will the hundred summers die, Come, Care and Pleasure, Hope and Pain, THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. I. YEAR after year unto her feet, The maiden's jet-black hair has grown, On either side her tranced form Forth streaming from a braid of pearl : The slumbrous light is rich and warm, And moves not on the rounded curl. 2. The silk star-broider'd coverlid Unto her limbs itself doth mould Languidly ever; and, amid Her full black ringlets downward roll'd, Glows forth each softly-shadow'd arm With bracelets of the diamond bright: Her constant beauty doth inform Stillness with love, and day with light. 3. She sleeps her breathings are not heard : In palace chambers far apart. The fragrant tresses are not stirr'd That lie upon her charmed heart. She sleeps on either hand upswells The gold-fringed pillow lightly prest : She sleeps, nor dreams, but ever dwells A perfect form in perfect rest. THE ARRIVAL. I. ALL precious things, discover'd late, For love in sequel works with fate, And draws the veil from hidden worth. He travels far from other skies His mantle glitters on the rocks A fairy Prince, with joyful eyes, And lighter-footed than the fox. 2. The bodies and the bones of those Or scatter'd blanching on the grass. 66 They perish'd in their daring deeds." This proverb flashes thro' his head, 3. He comes, scarce knowing what he seeks: He breaks the hedge: he enters there : The colour flies into his cheeks: He trusts to light on something fair; For all his life the charm did talk About his path, and hover near With words of promise in his walk, And whisper'd voices at his ear. 4. More close and close his footsteps wind The quiet chamber far apart. His spirit flutters like a lark, 66 He stoops to kiss her on his knee. Love, if thy tresses be so dark, How dark those hidden eyes must be ! " THE REVIVAL. I. A TOUCH, a kiss! the charm was snapt. There rose a noise of striking clocks, And feet that ran, and doors that clapt, And barking dogs, and crowing cocks; A fuller light illumined all, A breeze thro' all the garden swept, A sudden hubbub shook the hall, 2. The hedge broke in, the banner blew, The parrot scream'd, the peacock squall'd, The maid and page renew'd their strife, The palace bang'd, and buzz'd and clackt, And all the long-pent stream of life Dash'd downward in a cataract. 3. And last with these the king awoke, And in his chair himself uprear'd, And yawn'd, and rubb'd his face, and spoke, 66 "By holy rood, a royal beard! How say you? we have slept, my lords. My beard has grown into my lap." The barons swore, with many words, 'T was but an after-dinner's nap. 4. "Pardy," return'd the king, "but still My joints are something stiff or so. My lord, and shall we pass the bill I mention'd half an hour ago?" The chancellor, sedate and vain, In courteous words return'd reply: But dallied with his golden chain, And, smiling, put the question by. THE DEPARTURE. I. AND on her lover's arm she leant, In that new world which is the old : 2. "I'd sleep another hundred years, O love, for such another kiss; " "O wake for ever, love," she hears, "O love, 't was such as this and this." And o'er them many a sliding star, And many a merry wind was borne, And, stream'd thro' many a golden bar, The twilight melted into morn. "O happy sleep, that lightly fled !" "O happy kiss, that woke thy sleep!" "O love, thy kiss would wake the dead!" And o'er them many a flowing range Of vapour buoy'd the crescent-bark, And, rapt thro' many a rosy change, The twilight died into the dark. |