Third Spirit. Peace! the abyss is wreathed with scorn 40 What is heaven? a globe of dew, Filling in the morning new Some eyed flower whose young leaves waken On an unimagined world: Constellated suns unshaken, Orbits measureless, are furled THE SENSITIVE PLANT. PART FIRST. A SENSITIVE Plant in a garden grew, 50 And the Spring arose on the garden fair, 5 Like the Spirit of Love felt every where ; And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast Rose from the dreams of its wintry rest. But none ever trembled and panted with bliss In the garden, the field, or the wilderness, Like a doe in the noon-tide with love's sweet want, The snow-drop, and then the violet, Arose from the ground with warm rain wet, And their breath was mixed with fresh odour, sent Then the pied wind-flowers and the tulip tall, And the Naiad-like lily of the vale, Whom youth makes so fair and passion so pale, And the hyacinth purple, and white, and blue, ΙΟ 15 20 25 And the rose like a nymph to the bath addressed, Which unveiled the depth of her glowing breast, 30 Till, fold after fold, to the fainting air The soul of her beauty and love lay bare : And the wand-like lily, which lifted up, As a Mænad, its moonlight-coloured cup, Till the fiery star, which is its eye, 35 Gazed through clear dew on the tender sky, 1 And the jessamine faint, and the sweet tuberose, And all rare blossoms from every clime And on the stream whose inconstant bosom Broad water lilies lay tremulously, And starry river-buds glimmered by, And around them the soft stream did glide and dance With a motion of sweet sound and radiance. And the sinuous paths of lawn and of moss, 40 45 50 Were all paved with daisies and delicate bells And flowrets which drooping as day drooped too 55 To roof the glow-worm from the evening dew. And from this undefiled Paradise The flowers (as an infant's awakening eyes Smile on its mother, whose singing sweet 60 Can first lull, and at last must awaken it), When Heaven's blithe winds had unfolded them, As mine-lamps enkindle a hidden gem, Shone smiling to Heaven, and every one Shared joy in the light of the gentle sun; 65 For each one was interpenetrated With the light and the odour its neighbour shed, But the Sensitive Plant, which could give small fruit 70 For the Sensitive Plant has no bright flower; 75 It loves, even like Love; its deep heart is full; The light winds which from unsustaining wings Of the flowers whose hues they bear afar; The plumèd insects swift and free, The unseen clouds of the dew, which lie 80 85 The quivering vapours of dim noontide, 90 Each and all like ministering angels were And when evening descended from heaven above, And the beasts, and the birds, and the insects were drowned In an ocean of dreams without a sound; Whose waves never mark, though they ever impress (Only overhead the sweet nightingale The light sand which paves it, consciousness; Ever sang more sweet as the day might fail, And snatches of its Elysian chant 95 100 105 Were mixed with the dreams of the Sensitive Plant.) The Sensitive Plant was the earliest PART SECOND. There was a Power in this sweet place, Which to the flowers, did they waken or dream, IIO A Lady, the wonder of her kind, 5 Whose form was upborne by a lovely mind |