"HAST THOU SEEN, WITH FLASH INCESSANT." Composed 1818. Published 1820. HAST thou seen, with flash incessant, Bubbles gliding under ice, Bodied forth and evanescent, No one knows by what device? Such are thoughts !-A wind-swept meadow Such is life; and death a shadow From the rock eternity! NEAR THE SPRING OF THE HERMITAGE. Composed 1818. Published 1820. TROUBLED long with warring notions I resign my soul's emotions Unto Thee, mysterious God! What avails the kindly shelter Parching Summer hath no warrant Thus, dishonouring not her station, COMPOSED UPON AN EVENING OF EXTRAORDINARY Splendour AND BEAUTY. (54) Composed 1818. Published 1820. 1. HAD this effulgence disappeared Of blank astonishment; But 'tis endued with power to stay, And sanctify one closing day, What is ?-ah no, but what can be! While choirs of fervent Angels sang Their vespers in the grove; Or, crowning, star-like, each some sovereign height, Strains suitable to both.-Such holy rite, Methinks, if audibly repeated now From hill or valley, could not move Than doth this silent spectacle—the gleam— II. No sound is uttered,-but a deep And solemn harmony pervades The hollow vale from steep to steep, Called forth by wondrous potency Of beamy radiance, that imbues Whate'er it strikes with gem-like hues ! In vision exquisitely clear, Herds range along the mountain side; And glistening antlers are descried ; (55) Thine is the tranquil hour, purpureal Eve! An intermingling, of Heaven's pomp is spread III. And, if there be whom broken ties Afflict, or injuries assail, Yon hazy ridges (56) to their eyes On those bright steps that upward raise Come forth, ye drooping old men, look abroad, And see to what fair countries ye are bound! And if some traveller, weary of his road, Hath slept since noon-tide on the grassy ground, Ye Genii! to his covert speed; And wake him with such gentle heed As may attune his soul to meet the dower Bestowed on this transcendent hour! IV. Such hues from their celestial Urn This glimpse of glory, why renewed? For, if a vestige of those gleams Dread Power! whom peace and calmness serve, If aught unworthy be my choice, Oh, let thy grace remind me of the light 'Tis past, the visionary splendour fades ; 1819. TO THE RIVER DERWENT. Composed 1819. Published 1819. AMONG the mountains were we nursed, loved Stream! I, of his bold wing floating on the gale; (58) Where thy deep voice could lull me! Faint the beam On mortal notice.-Glory of the vale, Such thy meek outset, with a crown, though frail, Of thy soft breath!-Less vivid wreath entwined Composed 1819. SEPTEMBER 1819. Published 1820. DEPARTING summer hath assumed The gentlest look of spring; That calls from yonder leafy shade No faint and hesitating trill, Clear, loud, and lively is the din, Nor doth the example fail to cheer Fall, rosy garlands, from my head! Yet will I temperately rejoice; Wide is the range, and free the choice Of undiscordant themes; Which, haply, kindred souls may prize And passion's feverish dreams. For deathless powers to verse belong, But some their function have disclaimed, |