THE imperial Consort of the Fairy-king Owns not a sylvan bower; or gorgeous cell With emerald floored, and with purpureal shell Ceilinged and roofed; that is so fair a thing As this low structure, for the tasks of Spring Prepared by one who loves the buoyant swell Of the brisk waves, yet here consents to dwell; And spreads in steadfast peace her brooding wing. Words cannot paint the o'ershadowing yew-tree bough,
And dimly-gleaming Nest,-a hollow crown Of golden leaves inlaid with silver down, Fine as the mother's softest plumes allow : I gazed-and, self-accused while gazing, sighed For human-kind, weak slaves of cumbrous pride!
WHILE flowing rivers yield a blameless sport, Shall live the name of Walton: Sage benign Whose pen, the mysteries of the rod and line Unfolding, did not fruitlessly exhort
To reverent watching of each still report That Nature utters from her rural shrine. Meek, nobly versed in simple discipline- He found the longest summer day too short, To his loved pastime given by sedgy Lee, Or down the tempting maze of Shawford brook—- Fairer than life itself, in this sweet Book, The cowslip-bank and shady willow-tree; And the fresh meads-where flowed, from every nook
Of his full bosom, gladsome Piety!
To the Poet, BARD of the Fleece, whose skilful genius made John Dyer That work a living landscape fair and bright; Nor hallowed less with musical delight
Than those soft scenes through which thy child- hood strayed,
Those southern tracts of Cambria, "deep embayed," With green hills fenced, with ocean's murmur lulled; Though hasty Fame hath many a chaplet culled For worthless brows, while in the pensive shade Of cold neglect she leaves thy head ungraced, Yet pure and powerful minds, hearts meek and still, A grateful few, shall love thy modest Lay, Long as the shepherd's bleating flock shall stray O'er naked Snowdon's wide aerial waste;
Long as the thrush shall pipe on Grongar Hill!
"Peter Bell" A Book came forth of late, called Peter Bell Not negligent the style; the matter?-good As aught that song records of Robin Hood; Or Roy, renowned through many a Scottish dell; But some (who brook those hackneyed themes full well,
Nor heat, at Tam o' Shanter's name, their blood) Waxed wroth, and with foul claws, a harpy brood, On Bard and Hero clamorously fell.
Heed not, wild Rover once through heath and glen, Who mad'st at length the better life thy choice, Heed not such onset! nay, if praise of men To thee appear not an unmeaning voice, Lift up that grey-haired forehead, and rejoice In the just tribute of thy Poet's pen!
GRIEF, thou hast lost an ever ready friend Now that the cottage Spinning-wheel is mute; And Care-a comforter that best could suit Her froward mood, and softliest reprehend; And Love-a charmer's voice, that used to lend, More efficaciously than aught that flows
From harp or lute, kind influence to compose The throbbing pulse-else troubled without end: Even Joy could tell, Joy craving truce and rest From her own overflow, what power sedate On those revolving motions did await Assiduously to soothe her aching breast; And, to a point of just relief, abate The mantling triumphs of a day too blest.
EXCUSE is needless when with love sincere Of occupation, not by fashion led,
Thou turn'st the Wheel that slept with dust o'erspread;
My nerves from no such murmur shrink, tho'near, Soft as the Dorhawk's to a distant ear, When twilight shades darken the mountain's head: Even she who toils to spin our vital thread Might smile on work, O Lady, once so dear To household virtues. Venerable Art, Torn from the Poor! yet shall kind Heaven protect Its own; though Rulers, with undue respect, Trusting to crowded factory and mart And proud discoveries of the intellect, Heed not the pillage of man's ancient heart.
To Sarah Hutchinson spinning
Easter in the WITH each recurrence of this glorious morn dales That saw the Saviour in his human frame
Rise from the dead, erewhile the Cottage-dame Put on fresh raiment-till that hour unworn: Domestic hands the home-bred wool had shorn, And she who span it culled the daintiest fleece, In thoughtful reverence to the Prince of Peace, Whose temples bled beneath the platted thorn. A blest estate when piety sublime
These humble props disdained not! O green dales! Sad may I be who heard your sabbath chime When Art's abused inventions were unknown; Kind Nature's various wealth was all your own, And benefits were weighed in Reason's scales!
Decay of OFT have I seen, ere Time had ploughed my cheek, Piety Matrons and Sires-who, punctual to the call Of their loved Church, on fast or festival Through the long year the House of Prayer would seek:
By Christmas snows, by visitation bleak
Of Easter winds, unscared, from hut or hall They came to lowly bench or sculptured stall, But with one fervour of devotion meek.
I see the places where they once were known, And ask, surrounded even by kneeling crowds, Is ancient Piety for ever flown?
Alas! even then they seemed like fleecy clouds That, struggling through the western sky, have won Their pensive light from a departed sun!
WHAT need of clamorous bells, or ribands gay, These humble nuptials to proclaim or grace? Angels of love, look down upon the place; Shed on the chosen vale a sun-bright day! Yet no proud gladness would the Bride display Even for such promise :-serious is her face, Modest her mien; and she, whose thoughts keep pace
With gentleness, in that becoming way
Will thank you. Faultless does the Maid appear; No disproportion in her soul, no strife: But, when the closer view of wedded life Hath shown that nothing human can be clear From frailty, for that insight may the Wife To her indulgent Lord become more dear.
On the Marriage of a Friend
YES! hope may with my strong desire keep pace, From the And I be undeluded, unbetrayed;
For if of our affections none finds grace
In sight of Heaven, then, wherefore hath God
The world which we inhabit? Better plea Love cannot have than that in loving thee Glory to that eternal Peace is paid, Who such divinity to thee imparts
As hallows and makes pure all gentle hearts. His hope is treacherous only whose love dies With beauty, which is varying every hour; But in chaste hearts, uninfluenced by the power Of outward change,there blooms a deathless flower, That breathes on earth the air of paradise.
Italian of Michael Angelo
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