From wandering over the lea : Out of the live-green heart of the dells They freshen the silvery-crimson shells, And thick with white bells the clover-hill swells High over the full-toned sea: O hither, come hither and furl your sails, Come hither to me and to me: Hither, come hither and frolic and play ; For here are the blissful downs and dales, And the rainbow lives in the curve of the sand; Hither, come hither and see; And the rainbow hangs on the poising wave, And sweet is the colour of cove and cave, And sweet shall your welcome be: O hither, come hither, and be our lords, For merry brides are we : We will kiss sweet kisses, and speak sweet words: O listen, listen, your eyes shall glisten With pleasure and love and jubilee : O listen, listen, your eyes shall glisten When the sharp clear twang of the golden chords Runs up the ridged sea. Who can light on as happy a shore All the world o'er, all the world o'er? Whither away? listen and stay: mariner, mariner, fly no more. THE DESERTED HOUSE. I. IFE and Thought have gone away Leaving door and windows wide: 2. All within is dark as night : And no murmur at the door, 3. Close the door, the shutters close, Or thro' the windows we shall see The nakedness and vacancy Of the dark deserted house. 4. Come away: no more of mirth Is here or merry-making sound. The house was builded of the earth, And shall fall again to ground. 5. Come away for Life and Thought Here no longer dwell; But in a city glorious — A great and distant city A mansion incorruptible. have bought Would they could have stayed with us! THE DYING SWAN. THE I. 'HE plain was grassy, wild and bare, Wide, wild, and open to the air, Which had built up everywhere An under-roof of doleful gray. With an inner voice the river ran, Adown it floated a dying swan, And loudly did lament. It was the middle of the day. Ever the weary wind went on, And took the reed-tops as it went. 2. Some blue peaks in the distance rose, One willow over the river wept, And shook the wave as the wind did sigh; Above in the wind was the swallow, Chasing itself at its own wild will, And far thro' the marish green and still The tangled water-courses slept, Shot over with purple, and green, and yellow. 3. The wild swan's death-hymn took the soul Of that waste place with joy Hidden in sorrow at first to the ear The warble was low, and full and clear ; Prevailing in weakness, the coronach stole Sometimes afar, and sometimes anear; As when a mighty people rejoice With shawms, and with cymbals, and harps of gold, And the tumult of their acclaim is roll'd Thro' the open gates of the city afar, To the shepherd who watcheth the evening star. Were flooded over with eddying song. A DIRGE. I. OW is done thy long day's work; Now Fold thy palms across thy breast, Let them rave. Shadows of the silver birk Sweep the green that folds thy grave. Let them rave. 2. Thee nor carketh care nor slander; Let them rave. Light and shadow ever wander O'er the green that folds thy grave. Let them rave. 3. Thou wilt not turn upon thy bed; Thou wilt never raise thine head 4. Crocodiles wept tears for thee; Drip sweeter dews than traitor's tear. Rain makes music in the tree O'er the green that folds thy grave. Let them rave. 5. Round thee blow, self-pleached deep, Let them rave. These in every shower creep Thro' the green that folds thy grave. Let them rave. 6. The gold-eyed kingcups fine; The frail bluebell peereth over Rare broidry of the purple clover. |