LINES WRITTEN FOR ADONAIS And ever as he went he swept a lyre Of unaccustomed shape, and Now like the strings of impetuous fire, Which shakes the forest with its murmurings, Now like the rush of the aërial wings Of the enamoured wind among the treen, Whispering unimaginable things, And dying on the streams of dew serene, Which feed the unmown meads with ever-during green. And the green Paradise which western waves Talking of freedom to their tongueless caves, And then came one of sweet and earnest looks, Whose soft smiles to his dark and night-like eyes Were as the clear and ever living brooks Are to the obscure fountains whence they rise, Showing how pure they are: a Paradise Of happy truth upon his forehead low Lay, making wisdom lovely, in the guise Of earth-awakening morn upon the brow Of star-deserted heaven, while ocean gleams below. Lines written for Adonais. Published by Garnett, 1862. His song, though very sweet, was low and faint, A simple strain A mighty Phantasm, half concealed In darkness of his own exceeding light, Which clothed his awful presence unrevealed, Charioted on the night Of thunder-smoke, whose skirts were chrysolite. And like a sudden meteor, which outstrips eclipse LINES WRITTEN FOR HELLAS I FAIREST of the Destinies, Disarray thy dazzling eyes: Than the winged [bolts] thou bearest, And the smile thou wearest Wraps thee as a star Is wrapped in light. II Could Arethuse to her forsaken urn Lines Written for Hellas. Published by Garnett, 1862. Again into the quivers of the Sun Be gathered could one thought from its wild flight Return into the temple of the brain Without a change, without a stain, - III A star has fallen upon the earth 'Mid the benighted nations, A quenchless atom of immortal light, A cresset shaken from the constellations. To the heart of Earth, the well And unextinct in that cold source course Guides the sphere which is its prison, Like an angelic spirit pent In a form of mortal birth, Till, as a spirit half arisen Shatters its charnel, it has rent, The thin and painted garment of the Earth, THE PINE FOREST OF THE CASCINE NEAR PISA FIRST DRAFT OF "TO JANE: THE INVITATION, THE RECOLLECTION" DEAREST, best and brightest, Come away, To the woods and to the fields! Which, like thee to those in sorrow, The eldest of the hours of Spring, And the banks all bare and rude The Pine Forest of the Cascine near Pisa. Published by Mrs. Shelley, 1824. Radiant Sister of the Day, Round stems that never kiss the sun Now the last day of many days, For now the Earth has changed its face, We wandered to the Pine Forest That skirts the Ocean's foam, The whispering waves were half asleep, It seemed as if the day were one Sent from beyond the skies, 30 stems, Mrs. Shelley, 1824 || stones, Mrs. Shelley, 18391. |