SUMMER AND WINTER. It was a bright and cheerful afternoon, All things rejoiced beneath the sun; the weeds, It was a winter such as when birds die Gather about great fires, and yet feel cold: Keit, int heard to: -fáite colts glowed A jue é even to Heavens of anze: As in the voxiptor's thong; and there Like winter leaves o'ergrown by moulded snow, Because the crystal silence of the air Weighed on their life; even as the Power divine Louder and louder, gathering round, there wandered Over the oracular woods and divine sea Prophesyings which grew articulate They seize me I must speak them—be they fate! STROPHE α. I. Naples ! thou Heart of men which ever pantest The mutinous air and sea: they round thee, even Metropolis of a ruined Paradise Long lost, late won, and yet but half regained! Bright Altar of the bloodless sacrifice, Which armed Victory offers up To Love, the flower-enchained! unstained Thou which wert once, and then didst cease to be, STROPHE B. 2. Thou youngest giant birth Which from the groaning earth Leap'st, clothed in armour of impenetrable scale ! Last of the Intercessors ! Who 'gainst the Crowned Transgressors Pleadest before God's love! Arrayed in Wisdom's mail, Wave thy lightning lance in mirth Nor let thy high heart fail, Though from their hundred gates the leagued Oppressors, ANTISTROPHE α. What though Cimmerian Anarchs dare blaspheme A new Acteon's error Shall their's have been ― devoured by their own hounds! Killing thy foe with unapparent wounds! ANTISTROPHE ß. 2. From Freedom's form divine, |