THE SNOW-SPIRIT. · TU POTES INSOLITAS, CYNTHIA, FERRE NIVES? Propert. Lib. 1, Eleg. 8. No, ne'er did the wave in its element steep An island of lovelier charms; It blooms in the giant embrace of the deep, The tint of your bowers is balm to the eye, But the fiery planet of day is too nigh, The down from his wing is as white as the pearl Thy lips for their cabinet stole, And it falls on the green earth, as melting, my girl, As a murmur of thine on the soul! Oh! fly to the clime, where he pillows the death, As he cradles the birth of the year; Bright are your bowers, and balmy their breath, But the Snow-Spirit cannot come here! How sweet to behold him, when borne on the gale, He flings, like the priest of Diana, a veil No, no, thou wilt see what a moment it lasts, But fly to his region-lay open thy zone, But the Snow-Spirit cannot come here! Ενταύθα δε καθωρμισται ημίν και ό,τι μεν όνομα τη νήσω, εκ οίδα χρυση av πgos ye eμs ovoμaZorro..Philostrat. Icon. 17, Lib. 2. I STOLE along the flowery bank, That wing'd me round this fairy shore! 'Twas noon; and every orange bud A little dove, of milky hue, * The sea-side or mangrove grape, a native of the West Indies. For fancy told me, love had sent This snowy bird of blandishment, To lead me, where my soul should meet- Blest be the little pilot dove! He had indeed been sent by love, One of those rare and brilliant hours, But once in all his weary span ! Just where the margin's opening shade Oh vision bright! oh spirit fair! What spell, what magic rais'd her there! Its playful sabbath while he sleeps! * The Agave. I know that this is an erroneous idea; but it is quite true enough for poetry. Plato, I think, allows a poet to be « three removes from truth ;” τριτατος απο της αληθείας. The broad banana's green embrace Hung shadowy round each tranquil grace; One little beam alone could win The leaves to let it wander in, And, stealing over all her charms, All trembling, as it went, with bliss! Her eyelid's black and silken fringe Was ever witchery half so sweet! |