Thus I dreamed on, and might have dwelt When hark! a raven's luckless note (Sooth 'twas a direful scream!) Broke up the vision of delight. Instant my joy was past; O had a stone but met my hand, Translation of E. TAYLOR. WALTHER VON DER VOGELWEIDE, about 1150. SUMMER. The spring's gay promise melted into thee, In the blue sky thy voice is rich and clear; The gales that wander from the unclouded west Are burden'd with the breath of countless fields; In such a scene the sun-illumin'd heart Bounds like a prisoner in his narrow cell, When through its bars the morning glories dart, Thus, gazing on thy void and sapphire sky, I long to cast this cumbrous clay aside, And the impure, unholy thoughts that cling WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK, 1910-1941. XII. The Forest. THIS FROM "EVANGELINE." HIS is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks, Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight, Stand like Druids of old, with voices sad and prophetic, Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms. SONG. Under the greenwood tree And tune his merry note Unto the sweet bird's throat, Come hither, come hither, come hither; No enemy, But winter and rough weather. Who doth ambition shun And loves to live i' the sun, And pleas'd with what he gets, Come hither, come hither, come hither; No enemy, But winter and rough weather. SHAKSPEARE. A GROVE. FROM BRITANNIA'S PASTORAL." There stood the elme, whose shade so mildly dim The olive that in wainscot never cleans; The amorous vine which in the elme still weaves; For huswife's besoms only knowne most goode. The cold-place-loving birch, and servis-tree; The walnut loving vales, the mulberry. The maple, ashe, that doe delight in fountains, Which have their currents by the side of mountains. The laurell, mirtle, ivy, date, which hold Their leaves all winter, be it ne'er so cold. The firre, that often times doth rosins drop; The beach that scales the welkin with his top. By all the industry of nature strove To frame an arbour that might keep within it, WILLIAM BROWNE, 1590-1645. |