To Henry some unutterable thing. I see a chaos of green leaves and fruit Built round dark caverns, even to the root Of the living stems that feed them — in whose bowers 275 280 Like winged stars the fire-flies flash and glance, A meteor tamed, a fixed star gone astray Afar the Contadino's song is heard, Rude, but made sweet by distance and a bird Which cannot be the Nightingale, and yet I know none else that sings so sweet as it Now Italy or London, which you will! 285 290 Next winter you must pass with me; I'll have And all the dreams which our tormentors are; 295 Oh! that Hunt, Hogg, Peacock and Smith were there, With every thing belonging to them fair!— We will have books, Spanish, Italian, Greek; And ask one week to make another week As like his father as I'm unlike mine, 300 305 And other such lady-like luxuries, Feasting on which we will philosophize! And we'll have fires out of the Grand Duke's wood, 310 And then we 'll talk ; — what shall we talk about? 315 We'll make our friendly philosophic revel Outlast the leafless time; till buds and flowers 320 Warn the obscure inevitable hours, Sweet meeting by sad parting to renew; "To-morrow to fresh woods and pastures new." ODE TO NAPLES. EPODE I. a. I STOOD within the city disinterred, And heard the autumnal leaves like light footfalls The oracular thunder penetrating shook I felt, but heard not:-through white columns glowed The isle-sustaining Ocean-flood, 5 10 A plane of light between two Heavens of azure: Around me gleamed many a bright sepulchre Weighed on their life; even as the Power divine EPODE II. a. Then gentle winds arose With many a mingled close 15 20 Of wild Æolian sound and mountain-odour keen; 25 And where the Baian ocean Welters with air-like motion, Within, above, around its bowers of starry green, Moving the sea-flowers in those purple caves It bore me like an Angel, o'er the waves Of sunlight, whose swift pinnace of dewy air No storm can overwhelm; I sailed, where ever flows Of the dead kings of Melody. Shadowy Aornos darkened o'er the helm Made the invisible water white as snow; From that Typhæan mount, Inarime, There streamed a sunlight vapour, like the standard Whilst from all the coast, Louder and louder, gathering round, there wandered Over the oracular woods and divine sea Prophesyings which grew articulate They seize me I must speak them—be they fate! STROPHE a. I. Naples! thou Heart of men which ever pantest The mutinous air and sea: they round thee, even Metropolis of a ruined Paradise Long lost, late won, and yet but half regained! Bright Altar of the bloodless sacrifice, Which armèd Victory offers up unstained To Love, the flower-enchained! Thou which wert once, and then didst cease to be, 65 Now art, and henceforth ever shalt be, free, STROPHE 8. 2. Thou youngest giant birth Which from the groaning earth Leap'st, clothed in armour of impenetrable scale! Last of the Intercessors ! Who 'gainst the Crowned Transgressors Pleadest before God's love! Arrayed in Wisdom's mail, 70 50 45 Wave thy lightning lance in mirth, Nor let thy high heart fail, Though from their hundred gates the leagued Oppressors, With hurried legions move! Hail, hail, all hail ! ANTISTROPHE a. What though Cimmerian Anarchs dare blaspheme 75 To make their blind slaves see, and with fierce gleam 80 A new Actæon's error Shall theirs have been - devoured by their own hounds! Killing thy foe with unapparent wounds! Fear not, but gaze - for freemen mightier grow, ANTISTROPHE ẞ. 2. From Freedom's form divine, From Nature's inmost shrine, Strip every impious gawd, rend Error veil by veil : O'er Ruin desolate, O'er Falsehood's fallen state, Sit thou sublime, unawed; be the Destroyer pale! And equal laws be thine, And winged words let sail, Freighted with truth even from the throne of God: That wealth, surviving fate, 85 90 95 100 |