Well done now those lips, and a flowery seat The old man may sleep, and the planets may wink; The shut rose shall dream of our loves and awake Full-blown, and such warmth for the morning take, The stock-dove shall hatch his soft twin-eggs and coo, While I kiss to the melody, aching all through! 1818. S FAERY SONG. HED no tear! O shed no tear! To ease my breast of melodies Shed no tear. Overhead! look overhead! 'Mong the blossoms white and red- Adieu, Adieu I fly, adieu, I vanish in the heaven's blue 21 Adieu, Adieu! LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI. A BALLAD. I. WHAT can ail thee, knight-at-arms, The sedge has wither'd from the lake II. O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms! III. I see a lily on thy brow With anguish moist and fever dew, IV. I met a lady in the meads, Full beautiful a faery's child, Her hair was long, her foot was light, And her eyes were wild. V. I made a garland for her head, And bracelets too, and fragrant zone; She look'd at me as she did love, And made sweet moan. VI. I set her on my pacing steed, And nothing else saw all day long, For sidelong would she bend, and sing A faery song. VII. She found me roots of relish sweet, VIII. She took me to her elfin grot, And there she wept, and sigh'd full sore, And there I shut her wild wild eyes With kisses four. IX. And there she lulled me asleep, And there I dream'd Ah! woe betide! The latest dream I ever dream'd On the cold hill's side. X. I saw pale kings and princes too, Pale warriors, death-pale were they all, They cried "La Belle Dame sans Merci Hath thee in thrall!" XI. I saw their starved lips in the gloam, And I awoke and found me here, XII. And this is why I sojourn here, Though the sedge is wither'd from the lake, 1819 THE EVE OF ST. MARK. (UNFINISHED.) PON a Sabbath-day it fell; UP Twice holy was the Sabbath-bell, The city streets were clean and fair Twice holy was the Sabbath-bell: With whispers push, and shuffling feet, The bells had ceased, the prayers begun, Azure saints and silver rays, Bertha was a maiden fair, Far as the Bishop's garden-wall; |