Or guide of soul-subduing power The glance, that from the half-confessing eye VI. Or through the mystic ringlets of the vale Then with quaint music hymn the parting gleam VII. Hence, thou lingerer Light! Mother of wildly-working dreams! we view And clouds in watery colors 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, 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 Yet ere again along the impurpling vale, 4 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, That grunted as they crunched the mast: 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 nil, over dale, did the black Raven go. I can't tell half his adventures. At length he came back, and with him a She. oak. His young ones were killed; for they could not depart, And their mother did die of a broken heart. It bulged on a rock, and the waves rushed in fast: 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! ABSENCE. A FAREWELL ODE, ON QUITTING SCHOOL FOR WHERE graced with many a classic spoil Cam rolls his reverend stream along, I haste to urge the learned toil That sternly chides my love-lorn song: Ah me! too mindful of the days Illumed by Passion's orient rays, When Peace, and Cheerfulness, and Health Ah fair Delights! that o'er my soul Ah Flowers! which Joy from Eden stole But cease, fond Heart! this bootless moan: The Sun who ne'er remits his fires What though she leave the sky unblest F SONNET. ON THE SAME. AREWELL parental scenes! a sad farewell! To you my grateful heart still fondly clings, Tho' fluttering round on Fancy's burnished wings Her tales of future Joy Hope loves to tell. Adieu, adieu! ye much loved cloisters pale! Ah! would those happy days return again, When 'neath your arches, free from every stain, I heard of guilt and wondered at the tale! Dear haunts! where oft my simple lays I sang, Listening meanwhile the echoings of my feet, Lingering I quit you, with as great a pang, As when ere while, my weeping childhood, torn By early sorrow from my native seat, Mingled its tears with hers-my widowed Parent lorn. |