Here its ashes find a tomb, But beneath this pyramid Thou art not-if a thing divine Where art thou, my gentle child? Let me think that through low seeds June, 1819. AN ALLEGORY. A PORTAL as of shadowy adamant Stands yawning on the highway of the life Of shadows, like the restless clouds that haunt And many passed it by with careless tread, Wait peacefully for their companion new; But others, by more curious humour led, And they learn little there, except to know That shadows follow them where'er they go. MUTABILITY. THE flower that smiles to-day To-morrow dies; All that we wish to stay, Tempts and then flies; What is this world's delight? Virtue, how frail it is! Friendship too rare! Love, how it sells poor bliss For proud despair! But we, though soon they fall, Whilst skies are blue and bright, Whilst flowers are gay, Whilst eyes that change ere night Whilst yet the calm hours creep, Then wake to weep. FROM THE ARABIC. AN IMITATION. My faint spirit was sitting in the light It panted for thee like the hind at noon Thy barb, whose hoofs outspeed the tempest's flight, My heart, for my weak feet were weary soon, Ah! fleeter far than fleetest storm or steed, The heart which tender thought clothes like a dove In the battle, in the darkness, in the need, Nor claim one smile for all the comfort, love, TO ONE word is too often profaned One feeling too falsely disdained For thee to disdain it. One hope is too like despair For prudence to smother, And Pity from thee more dear Than that from another. I can give not what men call love, MUSIC. I PANT for the music which is divine, Let me drink of the spirit of that sweet sound, The dissolving strain, through every vein, As the scent of a violet withered up, Which grew by the brink of a silver lake; When the hot noon has drained its dewy cup, And mist there was none its thirst to slakeAnd the violet lay dead while the odour flew On the wings of the wind o'er the waters blue As one who drinks from a charmed cup Of foaming, and sparkling, and murmuring wine, Whom, a mighty Enchantress filling up, Invites to love with her kiss divine. THE cold earth slept below; Above the cold sky shone; And all around, With a chilling sound, From caves of ice and fields of snow, The breath of night like death did flow The wintry hedge was black, The green grass was not seen, On the bare thorn's breast, Whose roots, beside the pathway track, Thine eyes glowed in the glare Of the moon's dying light; As a fen-fire's beam, On a sluggish stream, Gleams dimly-so the moon shone there, And it yellowed the strings of thy tangled hair That shook in the wind of night. |