All round a hedge upshoots, and shows When will the hundred summers die, Bring truth that sways the soul of men? Come, Care and Pleasure, Hope and Pain, And bring the fated fairy Prince. THE SLEEPING BEAUTY. Year after year unto her feet, She lying on her couch alone, Across the purple coverlet, The maiden's jet-black hair has grown, On either side her tranced form Forth streaming from a braid of pearl: The slumbrous light is rich and warm, And moves not on the rounded curl. The silk star-broidered coverlid Unto her limbs itself doth mould Languidly ever; and, amid Her full black ringlets downward rolled, Glows forth each softly-shadowed arm With bracelets of the diamond bright: Her constant beauty doth inform Stillness with love, and day with light. She sleeps: her breathings are not heard That lie upon her charmed heart. THE ARRIVAL. All precious things, discovered late, And draws the veil from hidden worth. He travels far from other skies His mantle glitters on the rocksA fairy Prince, with joyful eyes, And lighter-footed than the fox. The bodies and the bones of those "They perished in their daring deeds." This proverb flashes through his head, "The many fail: the one succeeds." He comes, scarce knowing what he seeks : He breaks the hedge: he enters there: The color flies into his cheeks: He trusts to light on something fair; For all his life the charm did talk About his path, and hover near With words of promise in his walk, And whispered voices in his ear. More close and close his footsteps wind; His spirit flutters like a lark, 66 He stoops to kiss her on his knee. 'Love, if thy tresses be so dark, How dark those hidden eyes must be!" THE REVIVAL. A touch, a kiss! the charm was snapt. There rose a noise of striking clocks, And feet that ran, and doors that clapt, And barking dogs, and crowing cocks; A fuller light illumined all, A breeze through all the garden swept, A sudden hubbub shook the hall, And sixty feet the fountain leapt. The hedge broke in, the banner blew, The butler drank, the steward scrawled, The fire shot up, the martin flew, The parrot screamed, the peacock squalled, The maid and page renewed their strife, The palace banged, and buzzed and clackt, And all the long-pent stream of life Dashed downward in a cataract. And last of all the king awoke, And in his chair himself upreared, And yawned, and rubbed his face, and spoke, "By holy rood, a royal beard! How say you? we have slept, my lords. 'Pardy," returned the king, "but still The chancellor, sedate and vain, In courteous words returned reply: But dallied with his golden chain, And, smiling, put the question by. |