THE

COURSE OF TIME.

BOOK VII.

THE

COURSE OF TIME.

BOOK VII.

As one who meditates at evening tide,
Wandering alone by voiceless solitudes,
And flies in fancy, far beyond the bounds
Of visible and vulgar things, and things
Discovered hitherto, pursuing tracts

As yet untravelled, and unknown, thro' vast
Of new and sweet imaginings; if chance

Some airy harp, waked by the gentle sprites
Of twilight, or light touch of sylvan maid,
In soft succession fall upon
his ear,

And fill the desert with its heavenly tones;
He listens intense, and pleased exceedingly,
And wishes it may never stop; yet when
It stops, grieves not; but to his former thoughts
With fondest haste returns: so did the Seer,
So did his audience, after worship past,

And praise in heaven, return to sing, to hear
Of man; not worthy less the sacred lyre,
Or the attentive ear: and thus the bard,
Not unbesought, again resumed his song.

In customed glory bright, that morn the sun Rose, visiting the earth with light, and heat, And joy; and seemed as full of youth, and strong To mount the steep of heaven, as when the Stars Of morning sung to his first dawn, and night Fled from his face: the spacious sky received Him blushing as a bride, when on her looked The bridegroom: and spread out beneath his eye Earth smiled. Up to his warm embrace the dews,

That all night long had wept his absence, flew : The herbs and flowers, their fragrant stores un

And

locked,

gave

the wanton breeze, that newly woke, Revelled in sweets, and from its wings shook health, A thousand grateful smells: the joyous woods Dried in his beams their locks, wet with the drops Of night and all the sons of music sung

Their matin song; from arboured bower, the thrush

Concerting with the lark that hymned on high: On the green hill the flocks, and in the vale The herds rejoiced: and light of heart the hind Eyed amorously the milk-maid as she passed, Not heedless, though she looked another way.

No sign was there of change: all nature moved In wonted harmony: men as they met

In morning salutation, praised the day,

And talked of common things: the husbandman