Never before to human sight betrayed. UPON THE SIGHT OF A BEAUTIFUL (Painted by Sir G. H. Beaumont, Bart.) PRAISED be the art whose subtle power could stay Yon cloud, and fix it in that glorious shape; Nor would permit the thin smoke to escape, Nor those bright sunbeams to forsake the day; [their way, Which stopped that band of travellers on Ere they were lost within the shady wood; And showed the bark upon the glassy flood For ever anchored in her sheltering bay. Soul-soothing art! which morning, noontide even Do serve with all their changeful pageantry; Thou, with ambition modest yet sublime, Here, for the sight of mortal man, hast given [time To one brief moment caught from fleeting The appropriate calm of blest eternity. "WHY, minstrel, these untuneful murmurings[jar?" Dull, flagging notes that with each other "Think, gentle lady, of a harp so far From its own country, and forgive the strings." A simple answer! but even so forth springs, From the Castalian fountain of the heart, The poetry of life, and all that art Divine of words quickening insensate things. From the submissive necks of guiltless men Stretched on the block, the glittering axe recoils : Sun, moon, and stars, all struggle in the toils To sit in meekness, like the brooding dove, I And the first cuckoo's melancholy cry. Come, blessed barrier betwixt day and day, Dear mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health! TO SLEEP. FOND words have oft been spoken to thee, sleep! [names: And thou hast had thy store of tenderest The very sweetest words that fancy frames, THE WILD DUCK'S NEST. THE imperial consort of the fairy king Ceilinged and roofed; that is so fair a thing Prepared by one who loves the buoyant And spreads in steadfast peace her See Milton's sonnet, beginning "A book was Words cannot paint the o'ershadowing yew tree-bough, And dimly-gleaming nest,-a hollow crown WHILE flowing rivers yield a blameless To his loved pastime given by sedgy Lee, Fairer than life itself, in this sweet book, Of his full bosom, gladsome piety! writ of late called Tetrachordon." A BOOK came forth of late, called "Peter [good Not negligent the style;-the matter?As aught that song record of Robin Hood; Or Roy, renowned through many a Scottish dell; But some (who brook these hackneyed brood, On bard and hero clamorously fell. In the just tribute of thy poet's pen! TO THE RIVER DERWENT. AMONG the mountains were we nursed, loved stream! [sail, Thou, near the eagle's nest-within brief , of his bold wing floating on the gale, TO S. H. EXCUSE is needless when with love sincere My nerves from no such murmur, shrinkthough near, Soft as the dorhawk's to a distant ear, When twilight shades bedim the mountain's head. [thread She who was feigned to spin our vital Might smile, O lady! on a task once dear To household virtues. Venerable art, Torn from the poor! yet will kind Heaven protect Its own, not left without a guiding chart, If rulers, trusting with undue respect Sanction the pillage of man's ancient heart To proud discoveries of the intellect, Will thank you. appear, Faultless doth the maid | That of its native self can nothing feed: No disproportion in her soul, no strife: From frailty, for that insight may the wife FROM THE ITALIAN OF MICHAEL ANGELO. And I be undeluded, unbetrayed; The world which we inhabit! Better plea hearts. His hope is treacherous only whose love dies power [may: That quickens only where Thou say'st it Unless Thou show to us Thine own true way [lead. No man can find it. Father! Thou must By which such virtue may in me be bred whom SURPRISED by joy-impatient as the wind mind Love, faithful love, recalled thee to my return With sights the ruefullest that flesh and bone Smooth way; and I beheld the face of one Heavy is woe-and joy, for human-kind, A mournful thing, so transient is the blaze!" Thus might he paint our lot of mortal days Who wants the glorious faculty assigned To elevate the more-than-reasoning mind, And colour life's dark cloud with orient rays. Imagination is that sacred power, Imagination lofty and refined; 'Tis hers to pluck the amaranthine flower Of Faith, and round the sufferer s temples bind [shower, Wreaths that endure affliction's heaviest And do not shrink from sorrow's keenest wind. THE world is too much with us; late and soon, [powers: IT is a beauteous evening, calm and free; Getting and spending, we lay waste our The holy time is quiet as a nun Breathless with adoration; the broad sun God being with thee when we know it not. Little we see in nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! This sea that bares her bosom to the moon. For this, for every thing, we are out of tune, Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; AVOLANT tribe of bards on earth are found, Who, while the flattering zephyrs round them play, [of clay; On "coignes of vantage" hang their nests Is gently closing with the flowers of spring; How sweet it is, when mother fancy rocks The wayward brain, to saunter through a wood! An old place, full of many a lovely brood, Tall trees, green arbours, and groundflowers in flocks, stocks, And wild rose tip-toe upon hawthorn Like a bold girl, who plays her agile pranks |