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Some tale of love and arms in time of old.

      But there are times, when those that love the bay,

       Fly from all sorrowing far, far away;

       A sudden glow comes on them, nought they see

       In water, earth, or air, but poesy.

       It has been said, dear George, and true I hold it,

       (For knightly Spenser to Libertas told it,)

       That when a Poet is in such a trance,

       In air he sees white coursers paw, and prance,

       Bestridden of gay knights, in gay apparel,

       Who at each other tilt in playful quarrel,

       And what we, ignorantly, sheet-lightning call,

       Is the swift opening of their wide portal,

       When the bright warder blows his trumpet clear,

       Whose tones reach nought on earth but Poet’s ear.

       When these enchanted portals open wide,

       And through the light the horsemen swiftly glide,

       The Poet’s eye can reach those golden halls,

       And view the glory of their festivals:

       Their ladies fair, that in the distance seem

       Fit for the silv’ring of a seraph’s dream;

       Their rich brimm’d goblets, that incessant run

       Like the bright spots that move about the sun;

       And, when upheld, the wine from each bright jar

       Pours with the lustre of a falling star.

       Yet further off, are dimly seen their bowers,

       Of which, no mortal eye can reach the flowers;

       And ’tis right just, for well Apollo knows

       ’Twould make the Poet quarrel with the rose.

       All that’s reveal’d from that far seat of blisses,

       Is, the clear fountains’ interchanging kisses.

       As gracefully descending, light and thin,

       Like silver streaks across a dolphin’s fin,

       When he upswimmeth from the coral caves.

       And sports with half his tail above the waves.

      These wonders strange be sees, and many more,

       Whose head is pregnant with poetic lore.

       Should he upon an evening ramble fare

       With forehead to the soothing breezes bare,

       Would he naught see but the dark, silent blue

       With all its diamonds trembling through and through:

       Or the coy moon, when in the waviness

       Of whitest clouds she does her beauty dress,

       And staidly paces higher up, and higher,

       Like a sweet nun in holy-day attire?

       Ah, yes! much more would start into his sight —

       The revelries, and mysteries of night:

       And should I ever see them, I will tell you

       Such tales as needs must with amazement spell you.

      These are the living pleasures of the bard:

       But richer far posterity’s award.

       What does he murmur with his latest breath,

       While his proud eye looks through the film of death?

       “What though I leave this dull, and earthly mould,

       Yet shall my spirit lofty converse hold

       With after times. — The patriot shall feel

       My stern alarum, and unsheath his steel;

       Or, in the senate thunder out my numbers

       To startle princes from their easy slumbers.

       The sage will mingle with each moral theme

       My happy thoughts sententious; he will teem

       With lofty periods when my verses fire him,

       And then I’ll stoop from heaven to inspire him.

       Lays have I left of such a dear delight

       That maids will sing them on their bridal night.

       Gay villagers, upon a morn of May

       When they have tired their gentle limbs, with play,

       And form’d a snowy circle on the grass,

       And plac’d in midst of all that lovely lass

       Who chosen is their queen, — with her fine head

       Crowned with flowers purple, white, and red:

       For there the lily, and the muskrose, sighing,

       Are emblems true of hapless lovers dying:

       Between her breasts, that never yet felt trouble,

       A bunch of violets full blown, and double,

       Serenely sleep: — she from a casket takes

       A little book, — and then a joy awakes

       About each youthful heart, — with stifled cries,

       And rubbing of white hands, and sparkling eyes:

       For she’s to read a tale of hopes, and fears;

       One that I foster’d in my youthful years:

       The pearls, that on each glist’ning circlet sleep,

       Gush ever and anon with silent creep,

       Lured by the innocent dimples. To sweet rest

       Shall the dear babe, upon its mother’s breast,

       Be lull’d with songs of mine. Fair world, adieu!

       Thy dales, and hills, are fading from my view:

       Swiftly I mount, upon wide spreading pinions,

       Far from the narrow bounds of thy dominions.

       Full joy I feel, while thus I cleave the air,

       That my soft verse will charm thy daughters fair,

       And warm thy sons!” Ah, my dear friend and brother,

       Could I, at once, my mad ambition smother,

       For tasting joys like these, sure I should be

       Happier, and dearer to society.

       At times, ’tis true, I’ve felt relief from pain

       When some bright thought has darted through my brain:

       Through all that day I’ve felt a greater pleasure

       Than if I’d brought to light a hidden treasure.

       As to my sonnets, though none else should heed them,

       I feel delighted, still, that you should read them.

       Of late, too, I have had much calm enjoyment,

       Stretch’d on the grass at my best lov’d employment

       Of scribbling lines for you. These things I thought

       While, in my face, the freshest breeze I caught.

       E’en now I’m pillow’d on a bed of flowers

       That crowns a lofty clift, which proudly towers

       Above the ocean-waves. The stalks, and blades,

       Chequer my tablet with their, quivering shades.

       On one side is a field of drooping oats,

       Through which the poppies show their scarlet coats

       So pert and useless, that they bring to mind

      

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