With a waist and with a side While she held the goblet sweet, And Jove grew languid.—Break the mesh Quickly break her prison-string, J. KEATS. 271 HYMN TO THE SPIRIT OF NATURE Life of Life! thy lips enkindle With their love the breath between them; And thy smiles before they dwindle Make the cold air fire; then screen them In those looks, where whoso gazes Faints, entangled in their mazes. Child of Light! thy limbs are burning Through the vest which seems to hide them, As the radiant lines of morning Through the clouds, ere they divide them ; And this atmosphere divinest Shrouds thee wheresoe'er thou shinest. 5 9 Fair are others: none beholds thee But thy voice sounds low and tender Like the fairest, for it folds thee From the sight, that liquid splendour ; 15 Lamp of Earth! where'er thou movest Its dim shapes are clad with brightness, 20 And the souls of whom thou lovest Dizzy, lost, yet unbewailing! 272 P. B. SHELLEY. WRITTEN IN EARLY SPRING I heard a thousand blended notes To her fair works did Nature link The human soul that through me ran; And much it grieved my heart to think Through primrose tufts, in that green bower, The periwinkle trail'd its wreaths; And 'tis my faith that every flower The birds around me hopp'd and play'd, The budding twigs spread out their fan And I must think, do all I can, If this belief from heaven be sent, W. WORDSWORTH. 5 10 273. RUTH OR THE INFLUENCES OF NATURE When Ruth was left half desolate And she had made a pipe of straw, Beneath her father's roof, alone She seem'd to live; her thoughts her own ; Pleased with herself, nor sad nor gay. And, passing thus the live-long day, There came a youth from Georgia's shore A military casque he wore With splendid feathers drest; He brought them from the Cherokees; And made a gallant crest. From Indian blood you deem him sprung: But no! he spake the English tongue And bore a soldier's name; And, when America was free With hues of genius on his cheek, 10 15 20 26 30 In finest tones the youth could speak: -While he was yet a boy The moon, the glory of the sun, And streams that murmur as they run, He was a lovely youth! I guess The panther in the wilderness Was not so fair as he ; And when he chose to sport and play, No dolphin ever was so gay Upon the tropic sea. 35 40 Among the Indians he had fought; 45 Such tales as, told to any maid By such a youth, in the green shade, He told of girls, a happy rout! Who quit their fold with dance and shout, 51 To gather strawberries all day long ; When daylight is gone down. 60 From morn to evening dews. He told of the magnolia, spread -Of flowers that with one scarlet gleam To set the hills on fire. The youth of green savannahs spake, 65 With all its fairy crowds Of islands, that together lie As quietly as spots of sky Among the evening clouds. 'How pleasant,' then he said, 'it were A fisher or a hunter there, In sunshine or in shade To wander with an easy mind, And build a household fire, and find 70 75 'What days and what bright years! Ah me! Our life were life indeed, with thee So pass'd in quiet bliss ; And all the while,' said he, 'to know And then he sometimes interwove 'Sweet Ruth! and could you go with me 'Beloved Ruth !'-No more he said. She thought again-and did agree And drive the flying deer. 'And now, as fitting is and right, We in the church our faith will plight, 80 85 90 35 95 100 |