To the edge of the moist river-lawns, And the brink of the dewy caves, III. I sang of the dancing stars, I sang of the dædal Earth, And of Heaven - and the giant wars, And then I changed my pipings, Singing how down the vale of Menalus I pursued a maiden and clasped a reed: Gods and men, we are all deluded thus ! It breaks in our bosom and then we bleed : All wept, as I think both ye now would, THE TWO SPIRITS. AN ALLEGORY. FIRST SPIRIT. O THOU, who plumed with strong desire Bright are the regions of the air, SECOND SPIRIT. The deathless stars are bright above ; Within my heart is the lamp of love, And that is day ! And the moon will smile with gentle light On my golden plumes where'er they move; The meteors will linger round my flight, And make night day. FIRST SPIRIT. But if the whirlwinds of darkness waken Hail, and lightning, and stormy rain ; See, the bounds of the air are shaken Night is coming! The red swift clouds of the hurricane Yon declining sun have overtaken, The clash of the hail sweeps over the plain Night is coming! SECOND SPIRIT. I see the light, and I hear the sound; And thou, when the gloom is deep and stark, Some say there is a precipice Where one vast pine is frozen to ruin And that the languid storm pursuing Round those hoar branches, aye renewing Some say when nights are dry and clear, And the death-dews sleep on the morass, Sweet whispers are heard by the traveller, Which make night day : And a silver shape like his early love doth pass Upborne by her wild and glittering hair, And when he awakes on the fragrant grass, He finds night day. ΤΟ I. I FEAR thy kisses, gentle maiden, Thou needest not fear mine; Ever to burthen thine. II. I fear thy mien, thy tones, thy motion, With which I worship thine. SONG OF PROSERPINE, WHILE GATHERING FLOWERS ON THE PLAIN OF ENNA. I. SACRED Goddess, Mother Earth, Thou from whose immortal bosom, II. If with mists of evening dew Thou dost nourish these young flowers Till they grow, in scent and hue, |