The village maid steals through the shade Her shepherd's suit to hear; To beauty shy, by lattice high, Sings high-born Cavalier. The star of Love, all stars above, And high and low the influence know But where is County Guy? 10 15 SIR W. SCOTT. 187 TO THE EVENING STAR Gem of the crimson-colour'd Even, So fair thy pensile beauty burns When soft the tear of twilight flows; So due thy plighted love returns To chambers brighter than the rose ; 5 To Peace, to Pleasure, and to Love So kind a star thou seem'st to be, 10 Sure some enamour'd orb above Descends and burns to meet with thee. Thine is the breathing, blushing hour, Chased by the soul-subduing power 15 O! sacred to the fall of day, Queen of propitious stars, appear, And early rise, and long delay, When Caroline herself is here! Shine on her chosen green resort, Whose trees the sunward summit crown, And wanton flowers, that well may court An angel's feet to tread them down. 20 Shine on her sweetly-scented road, Thou star of evening's purple dome, That lead'st the nightingale abroad, And guid'st the pilgrim to his home. 25 Shine where my charmer's sweeter breath 30 To kiss the cheek of rosy hue. Where, winnow'd by the gentle air, And fall upon her brow so fair, 35 Like shadows on the mountain snow. Thus, ever thus, at day's decline In converse sweet to wander far O bring with thee my Caroline, 40 T. CAMPBELL. 188 TO THE NIGHT Swiftly walk over the western wave, Out of the misty eastern cave, Where, all the long and lone daylight, Wrap thy form in a mantle grey Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day, Kiss her until she be wearied out, Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land, Touching all with thine opiate wand Come, long-sought! 5 10 When I arose and saw the dawn, I sigh'd for thee; 15 When light rode high, and the dew was gone, I sigh'd for thee. Thy brother Death came, and cried, Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed, Wouldst thou me ? '—And I replied, Death will come when thou art dead, Sleep will come when thou art fled 20 25 30 35 P. B. SHELLEY. 189 TO A DISTANT FRIEND Why art thou silent? Is thy love a plant The mind's least generous wish a mendicant A thousand tender pleasures, thine and mine, Be left more desolate, more dreary cold 11 1 Than a forsaken bird's-nest fill'd with snow know! 190 When we two parted To sever for years, Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder thy kiss; Truly that hour foretold The dew of the morning And share in its shame. They name thee before me, In secret we met : In silence I grieve That thy heart could forget, If I should meet thee After long years, How should I greet thee ?— LORD BYRON. 5 10 15 20 25 30 191 HAPPY INSENSIBILITY In a drear-nighted December, The north cannot undo them With a sleety whistle through them, Nor frozen thawings glue them In a drear-nighted December, They stay their crystal fretting, About the frozen time. Ah, would 'twere so with many But were there ever any Writhed not at passéd joy? To know the change and feel it, When there is none to heal it Nor numbéd sense to steel itWas never said in rhyme. J. KEATS. 5 10 15 20 192 Where shall the lover rest Whom the fates sever From his true maiden's breast, Parted for ever? Where, through groves deep and high, 5 Sounds the far billow, |