IV. "Tis awful silence then again; Nor move till Milton's tuneful thunders cease, V. Thou biddest Shakspeare wave his hand, And quickly forward spring The Passions-a terrific band And each vibrates the string That with its tyrant temper best accords, While from their Master's lips pour forth the inspiring words. VI. A silver trumpet Spenser blows, And, as its martial notes to silence flee, From a virgin chorus flows A hymn in praise of spotless Chastity. 'Tis still! Wild warblings from the Eolian lyre Enchantment softly breathe, and tremblingly expire> VII. Next thy Tasso's ardent numbers Calling youth from idle slumbers, Rousing them from Pleasure's lair :— Then o'er the strings his fingers gently move, And melt the soul to pity and to love. VIII. But when Thou joinest with the Nine, The dying tones that fill the air, From thee, great God of Bards, receive their heavenly birth. Feb. 1815. HYMN TO APOLLO. GOD of the golden bow, Round the patient year, Where where slept thine ire, When like a blank idiot I put on thy wreath, The light of thy story, Or was I a worm-too low creeping for death? The Thunderer grasp'd and grasp'd, The eagle's feathery mane For wrath became stiffen'd—the sound Of breeding thunder Went drowsily under, Muttering to be unbound. O why didst thou pity, and beg for a worm? Till the thunder was mute, What was I not crush'd-such a pitiful germ? The Pleiades were up, Watching the silent air; The seeds and roots in Earth Were swelling for summer fare; Was at his old labour, When, who-who did dare To tie for a moment thy plant round his brow, And blaspheme so loudly, And live for that honour, to stoop to thee now? O Delphic Apollo ! ON THINK not of it, sweet one, so ; Give it not a tear; Sigh thou mayst, and bid it go X UNFELT, unheard, unseen, Her languid arms in silver slumber lying: Who who could tell how much There is for madness-cruel, or complying? Those faery lids how sleek! Those lips how moist !-they speak, In ripest quiet, shadows of sweet sounds: Melting a burden dear, How "Love doth know no fullness, nor no bounds." True!-tender monitors! I bend unto your laws : This sweetest day for dalliance was born! So, without more ado, I'll feel my heaven anew, For all the blushing of the hasty morn. 1817. SONG. I. HUSH, hush! tread softly! hush, hush, my dear! Tho' your feet are more light than a Faery's feet, |