With the joyous and the free All but those who need thee not. As a lizard with the shade Of a trembling leaf, Thou with sorrow art dismayed; Even the sighs of grief Reproach thee, that thou art not near, And reproach thou wilt not hear. Let me set my mournful ditty To a merry measure, Thou wilt never come for pity, Thou wilt come for pleasure. Pity then will cut away Those cruel wings, and thou wilt stay. I love all that thou lovest, Spirit of Delight! The fresh Earth in new leaves drest, And the starry night; Autumn evening, and the morn When the golden mists are born. I love snow, and all the forms I love waves, and winds, and storms, Which is Nature's, and may be Untainted by man's misery. I love tranquil solitude, And such society As is quiet, wise, and good; Between thee and me What difference! but thou dost possess I love Love-though he has wings, But, above all other things, Thou art love and life! O come, Make once more my heart thy home. TO CONSTANTIA, SINGING. THUS to be lost and thus to sink and die, Perchance were death indeed!-Constantia, turn! In thy dark eyes a power like light doth lie, Even though the sounds which were thy voice, whick burn Between thy lips, are laid to sleep; Within thy breath, and on thy hair, like odour it is yet, And from thy touch like fire doth leap. Even while I write, my burning cheeks are wet, A breathless awe, like the swift change Unseen, but felt in youthful slumbers, By the inchantment of thy strain, And on my shoulders wings are woven, To follow its sublime career, Beyond the mighty moons that wane Upon the verge of nature's utmost sphere, 'Till the world's shadowy walls are past and disappear. Her voice is hovering o'er my soul-it lingers O'ershadowing it with soft and lulling wings, My heart is quivering like a flame; As morning dew, that in the sunbeam dies, I have no life, Constantia, now, but thee, On which, like one in trance upborne, Rejoicing like a cloud of morn. Now 'tis the breath of summer night, Which, when the starry waters sleep, Round western isles, with incense-blossoms bright, Lingering, suspends my soul in its voluptuous flight. THE FUGITIVES. The waters are flashing, The whirlwind is rolling, The thunder is tolling, The forest is swinging, The minster bells ringing- The Earth is like Ocean, Bird, beast, man, and worm, "Our boat has one sail, And the helmsman is pale ;- Who should follow us now,"- And she cried: "Ply the oar! And from isle, tower, and rock, And fear'st thou, and fear'st thou ? And see'st thou, and hear'st thou ? And drive we not free O'er the terrible sea, One boat-cloak did cover The loved and the lover Their blood beats one measure, While around the lashed Ocean, Sunk, shattered, and shifted, In the court of the fortress By shame; On the topmost watch-turret, Seems tame; |