SONNET. ON THE SEA. It keeps eternal whisperings around T Desolate shores, and with its mighty swell Gluts twice ten thousand caverns, till the spell Of Hecate leaves them their old shadowy sound. Often 'tis in such gentle temper found, That scarcely will the very smallest shell Be mov'd for days from whence it sometime fell, When last the winds of heaven were unbound. Oh ye! who have your eye-balls vex'd and tir'd, Feast them upon the wideness of the Sea; Oh ye! whose ears are dinn'd with uproar rude, Or fed too much with cloying melody, Sit ye near some old cavern's mouth, and brood Until ye start, as if the sea-nymphs quir'd! SONNET. On Leigh Hunt's Poem "The Story of Rimini." WHO loves to peer up at the morning sun, With half-shut eyes and comfortable cheek, Let him, with this sweet tale, full often seek For meadows where the little rivers run; Who loves to linger with that brightest one Of Heaven-Hesperus-let him lowly speak Or moon, if that her hunting be begun. He who knows these delights, and too is prone Will find at once a region of his own, A bower for his spirit, and will steer FRAGMENT. HERE'S the Poet? show him! show him, Muses nine! that I may know him! 'Tis the man who with a man Is an equal, be he King, Or any other wondrous thing What his horny throat expresseth, Comes articulate and presseth On his ear like mother-tongue. 5 10 15 FRAGMENT: MODERN LOVE. AND what is love? It is a doll dress'd up Yawning and doting a whole summer long, And common Wellingtons turn Romeo boots; Fools! if some passions high have warm'd the world, Should be more common than the growth of weeds. Fragment of "The Castle Builder." 5 10 15 TO-NIGHT I'll have my friar-let me think Their glassy diamonding on Turkish floor; A tambour-frame, with Venus sleeping there, A skull upon a mat of roses lying, Ink'd purple with a song concerning dying; ΤΟ 15 20 25 30 35 Than on the marble fairness of old Greece. My table-coverlits of Jason's fleece And black Numidian sheep-wool should be wrought, 40 Gold, black, and heavy, from the Lama brought. My ebon sofas should delicious be FRAGMENT. "Under the flag Of each his faction, they to battle bring WELCOME joy, and welcome sorrow, Lethe's weed and Hermes' feather; Come to-day, and come to-morrow, I do love you both together! I love to mark sad faces in fair weather; Meadows sweet where flames are under, Visage sage at pantomime; Funeral, and steeple-chime; Infant playing with a skull ; Morning fair, and shipwreck'd hull; 5 10 Nightshade with the woodbine kissing; 15 Cleopatra regal-dress'd With the aspic at her breast; |