Their interspaces, counterchanged Of good Haroun Alraschiq. Dark-blue the deep sphere overhead, In cool soft turf upon the bank, Of good Haroun Alraschid. Thence thro' the garden I was drawn- And deep myrrh-thickets blowing round With dazed vision unawares After the fashion of the time, The fourscore windows all alight Of night new-risen, that marvellous time, Then stole I up, and trancedly Six columns, three on either side, With inwrought flowers, a cloth of gold. Sole star of all that place and time, ODE TO MEMORY. 1. THOU who stealest fire, From the fountains of the past, To glorify the present; oh, haste, Visit my low desire! Strengthen me, enlighten me! I faint in this obscurity, Thou dewy dawn of memory. 2. Come not as thou camest of late, Flinging the gloom of yesternight On the white day; but robed in soften'd light Whilome thou camest with the morning mist, Stays on her floating locks the lovely freight The black earth with brilliance rare. 3. Whilome thou camest with the morning mist, And with the evening cloud, Showering thy gleaned wealth into my open breast, (Those peerless flowers which in the rudest wind Never grow sere, When rooted in the garden of the mind, In sweet dreams softer than unbroken rest Though deep not fathomless, Was cloven with the million stars which tremble O strengthen me, enlighten me! I faint in this obscurity, Thou dewy dawn of memory. 4. Come forth I charge thee, arise, Thou of the many tongues, the myriad eyes! Thou wert not nursed by the waterfall Which ever sounds and shines A pillar of white light upon the wall Of purple cliffs, aloof descried: Come from the woods that belt the gray hillside, The seven elms, the poplars four That stand beside my father's door, And chiefly from the brook that loves Pour round mine ears the livelong bleat When the first matin-song hath waken'd loud Forth gushes from beneath a low-hung cloud. 5. Large dowries doth the raptured eye To the young spirit present When first she is wed; And like a bride of old In triumph led, With music and sweet showers Of festal flowers, Unto the dwelling she must sway. Place it, where sweetest sunlight falls For the discovery And newness of thine art so pleased thee, On the prime labor of thine early days: Whether the high field on the bushless Pike, Of heaped hills that mound the sea, Or even a lowly cottage whence we see Stretch'd wide and wild the waste enormous marsh, Where from the frequent bridge, Like emblems of infinity, The trenched waters run from sky to sky; Or a garden bower'd close With plaited alleys of the trailing rose, Long alleys falling down to twilight grots, Or opening upon level plots Of crowned lilies, standing near Purple-spiked lavender; Whither in after life retired From brawling storms, From weary wind, With youthful fancy reinspired, We may hold converse with all forms Of the many-sided mind, And those whom passion hath not blinded, Subtle-thoughted, myriad-minded, My friend, with you to live alone, Were how much better than to own A crown, a sceptre, and a throne! O strengthen me, enlighten me! I faint in this obscurity, Thou dewy dawn of memory. SONG. 1. A SPIRIT haunts the year's last hours To himself he talks; For at eventide, listening earnestly, At his work you may hear him sob and sigh In the walks; Earthward he boweth the heavy stalks Of the mouldering flowers: Heavily hangs the broad sunflower Over its grave i' the earth so chilly; 2. The air is damp, and hush'd, and close, My very heart faints and my whole soul grieves And the breath Of the fading edges of box beneath, And the year's last rose. Heavily hangs the broad sunflower ADELINE. MYSTERY of mysteries, Faintly smiling Adeline, Scarce of earth nor all divine, Nor unhappy, nor at rest, But beyond expression fair With thy floating flaxen hair; Thy rose-lips and full blue eyes Take the heart from out my breast. Wherefore those dim looks of thine, Shadowy, dreaming Adeline? 2. Whence that aery bloom of thine, And a rose-bush leans upon, Ere the placid lips be cold? Wherefore those faint smiles of thine, Spiritual Adeline? 3. What hope or fear or joy is thine? For sure thou art not all alone: Hast thou heard the butterflies, With what voice the violet woos How the merry bluebell rings To the mosses underneath? Hast thou look'd upon the breath Of the lilies at sunrise? Wherefore that faint smile of thine, Shadowy, dreaming Adeline? Some honey-converse feeds thy mind, And those dew-lit eyes of thine. 5. Lovest thou the doleful wind In the heart of the garden the merry bird chants, It would fall to the ground if you came in. In the middle leaps a fountain Like sheet lightning, Ever brightening With a low melodious thunder; And the mountain draws it from Heaven above, THE SEA-FAIRIES. SLOW Sail'd the weary mariners and saw, Shrill music reach'd them on the middle sea. Whither away, whither away, whither away? fly no more. Whither away from the high green field, and the happy blossoming shore? Day and night to the billow the fountain calls; Down shower the gambolling waterfalls 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 O hither, come hither and furl your sails, Hither, come hither and frolic and play; We will sing to you all the day: Mariner, mariner, furl your sails, For here are the blissful downs and dales, Over the islands free; And the rainbow lives in the curve of the sand; And the rainbow hangs on the poising wave, 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 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. 1. LIFE and Thought have gone away Side by side, Leaving door and windows wide: Careless tenants they! 2. All within is dark as night: Close the door, the shutters close, Or thro' the windows we shall see The nakedness and vacancy Of the dark deserted house. |