And heaves the gentle misery of a sigh As round our sandy grot appear Weaving gay dreams of sunny-tinctured hue O'er his hush'd soul our soothing witcheries shed And twine the future garland round his head. V. When Evening's dusky car Crowned with her dewy star Steals o'er the fading sky in shadowy flight; We tremble to the breeze Veiled from the grosser ken of mortal sight. Along our wildly-bowered sequestered walk, The glance, that from the half-confessing eye VI. Or through the mystic ringlets of the vale Circling the Spirit of the Western Gale, Where wearied with his flower-caressing sport, Supine he slumbers on a violet bank; Then with quaint music hymn the parting gleam By lonely Otter's sleep-persuading stream; Or where his wave with loud unquiet song Dashed o'er the rocky channel froths along; Or where, his silver waters smoothed to rest, The tall tree's shadow sleeps upon his breast. VII. Hence thou lingerer, Light! Mother of wildly-working dreams! we view Thy power the Pixies own, And clouds in watery colours drest Float in light drapery o'er thy sable vest: What time the pale moon sheds a softer day Mellowing the woods beneath its pensive beam: For mid the quivering light 'tis ours to play, Aye dancing to the cadence of the stream. VIII. Welcome, Ladies! to the cell Where the blameless Pixies dwell: But thou, sweet Nymph! proclaimed our Faery Queen, With what obeisance meet Thy presence shall we greet? For lo! attendant on thy steps are seen Mirth of the loosely-flowing hair, Whose tearful cheeks are lovely to the view, As snow-drop wet with dew. IX. Unboastful Maid! though now the Lily pale VOL. I. C THE RAVEN. A CHRISTMAS TALE, TOLD BY A SCHOOL-BOY TO HIS LITTLE BROTHERS AND SISTERS. UNDERNEATH an old oak tree There was of swine a huge company, Then they trotted away, for the wind grew high: Flew low in the rain, and his feathers not wet. He went high and low, Over hill, over dale, did the black Raven go. I can't tell half his adventures. At length he came back, and with him a She, But soon came a woodman in leathern guise, And their mother did die of a broken heart. the blast. He heard the last shriek of the perishing soulsSee! See! o'er the topmast the mad water rolls! Right glad was the Raven, and off he went fleet, And Death riding home on a cloud he did meet, And he thank'd him again and again for this treat: They had taken his all, and Revenge it was sweet! |