6.
The crane o"er seas and forests seeks her home; No bird so wild but has its quiet nest, When it no more would roam; The sleepless billows on the ocean"s breast Break like a bursting heart, and die in foam, _45 And thus at length find rest: Doubtless there is a place of peace Where MY weak heart and all its throbs will cease.
7.
I asked her, yesterday, if she believed That I had resolution. One who HAD _50 Would ne"er have thus relieved His heart with words,--but what his judgement bade Would do, and leave the scorner unrelieved.
These verses are too sad To send to you, but that I know, _55 Happy yourself, you feel another"s woe.
NOTES: _10 Indifference, which once hurt me, is now grown Trelawny ma.n.u.script.
_18 Dear friends, dear friend Trelawny ma.n.u.script, 1839, 2nd edition; Dear gentle friend 1834, 1839, 1st edition.
_26 ever]lately Trelawny ma.n.u.script.
_28 in Trelawny ma.n.u.script; on 1834, editions 1839, _43 When 1839, 2nd edition; Whence 1834, 1839, 1st edition.
_48 will 1839, 2nd edition; shall 1834, 1839, 1st edition.
_53 unrelieved Trelawny ma.n.u.script, 1839, 2nd. edition; unreprieved 1834, 1839, 1st edition.
_54 are]were Trelawny ma.n.u.script.
TO --.
[Published by Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.]
1.
One word is too often profaned For me to profane it, One feeling too falsely disdained For thee to disdain it; One hope is too like despair _5 For prudence to smother, And pity from thee more dear Than that from another.
2.
I can give not what men call love, But wilt thou accept not _10 The worship the heart lifts above And the Heavens reject not,-- The desire of the moth for the star, Of the night for the morrow, The devotion to something afar _15 From the sphere of our sorrow?
TO --.
[Published by Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.
There is a Bos...o...b.. ma.n.u.script.]
1.
When pa.s.sion"s trance is overpast, If tenderness and truth could last, Or live, whilst all wild feelings keep Some mortal slumber, dark and deep, I should not weep, I should not weep! _5
2.
It were enough to feel, to see, Thy soft eyes gazing tenderly, And dream the rest--and burn and be The secret food of fires unseen, Couldst thou but be as thou hast been, _10
3.
After the slumber of the year The woodland violets reappear; All things revive in field or grove, And sky and sea, but two, which move And form all others, life and love. _15
NOTE: _15 form Bos...o...b.. ma.n.u.script; for editions 1824, 1839.
A BRIDAL SONG.
[Published by Mrs. Sh.e.l.ley, "Posthumous Poems", 1824.]
1.
The golden gates of Sleep unbar Where Strength and Beauty, met together, Kindle their image like a star In a sea of gla.s.sy weather!
Night, with all thy stars look down,-- _5 Darkness, weep thy holiest dew,-- Never smiled the inconstant moon On a pair so true.
Let eyes not see their own delight;-- Haste, swift Hour, and thy flight _10 Oft renew.
2.
Fairies, sprites, and angels, keep her!
Holy stars, permit no wrong!
And return to wake the sleeper, Dawn,--ere it be long! _15 O joy! O fear! what will be done In the absence of the sun!
Come along!
EPITHALAMIUM.
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PRECEDING.
[Published by Medwin, "Life of Sh.e.l.ley", 1847.]
Night, with all thine eyes look down!
Darkness shed its holiest dew!
When ever smiled the inconstant moon On a pair so true?
Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, _5 Lest eyes see their own delight!
Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew.
BOYS: O joy! O fear! what may be done In the absence of the sun? _10 Come along!
The golden gates of sleep unbar!
When strength and beauty meet together, Kindles their image like a star In a sea of gla.s.sy weather. _15 Hence, coy hour! and quench thy light, Lest eyes see their own delight!
Hence, swift hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew.
GIRLS: O joy! O fear! what may be done _20 In the absence of the sun?
Come along!
Fairies! sprites! and angels, keep her!
Holiest powers, permit no wrong!
And return, to wake the sleeper, _25 Dawn, ere it be long.
Hence, swift hour! and quench thy light, Lest eyes see their own delight!
Hence, coy hour! and thy loved flight Oft renew. _30
BOYS AND GIRLS: O joy! O fear! what will be done In the absence of the sun?
Come along!
NOTE: _17 Lest]Let 1847.