"And straight the elves and fairy bands
Came tripping o'er the sparkling dew,
And twining forms and wreathing hands
Around me lightly flew;
Meanwhile that winged voice of spring,
The nightingale, would near them sing,
And that minute and earth-born star,
The glow-worm, glitter brightly,
To gild their revels, near and far,
As they perform'd them nightly.
"But soon the white-rob'd Druid came, With rites profane, to yonder wood; He lit the sacrificial flame,
And stain'd my waves with blood. Th' aërial folks hence frighten'd flew, Nor since have met my longing view :So solemnly his wild harp rang
With death-notes graver―firmer, They pierc'd my breast with many a pang, And taught my waves to murmur.
"But good will oft from evil rise-
This sternness nurs'd the patriots' ire,
And led the excited energies
At freedom to aspire;
And hence the intrepid warrior queen*,
Of dauntless soul and loveliest mien,
When Rome's proud legions took the field,
Assum'd that port of bravery,
Which taught th' invaders oft to yield,
And foil'd the yoke of slavery.
"And when the gallant Saxon* rose,
Enrich'd with every gift and grace
That heaven on favour'd souls bestows
To bless the human race.
I woo'd him to my calm retreat,
Where soon he form'd a sacred seat
For the young Arts and Sciences,
Whom well he lov'd to nourish;
And here they've grown in joy and peace,
And shall for ever flourish.
"And many a struggle, many a change,
From dark to bright, low to sublime,
Since then have mark'd the onward range
Of never resting time:
But, oh! I heard, with grief profound,
Th' oppressive curfew's sullen sound;
And saw the rage of civil strife;
And mark'd the signal given,
When bigotry depriv'd of life
The priests of truth and heaven.
"But these are fled-and now remain
As spots ornate on mem'ry's waste;
So pains once pass'd more bright forms gain,
And turn to joys at last;
And now a thousand varied beams
Concentrate o'er my prospect streams:
The blaze of truth, the light of love,
With untold glories blended,
Assure me days to come shall prove
Than those yet pass'd more splendid.
"So I will rest me in my bower,
Beneath the gently rippling wave,
And I will wreath full many a flower,
And deck with shells my cave;
And oft at the still hour of night,
When the moon sheds her loveliest light,
Borne in my water-lily car,
I'll sing sweet strains of gladness,
Shall strike the home-bound fisher's ear,
And charm away his sadness.
"And when the youthful and the fair
Shall grace the bosom of my tide,
I'll watch them with fraternal care,
And joys unseen provide :
The swallow fleet, the halcyon shy,
The moth, and net-wing'd dragon-fly
Shall glance before them, while his hymn
The lark shall raise to heaven,
And fragant beauties crown my brim,
Pride of the Summer's even."
WHENCE the fragrant charm that rises,
In this still sequester'd vale,
Which my wondering sense surprises,
As I quaff the passing gale?
See its source-a humble flower,
Blooming on the rugged bank!
Lovelier ne'er deck'd courtly bower,
Sweeter nectar'd dews ne'er drank.
What though lowly be its dwelling, Though o'erlook'd by heedless eyes; From its heart is constant welling Streams of incense to the skies.
Virtue thus in humble station
Heaven's approving smile oft draws; Virtue worthier celebration
Than who shares the world's applause.
(FRINGILLA CELEBS.)
Ir glanc'd fleet before me !—
Was't a meteor that fled,
With bright dappl'd pinions,
And gorget of red ?
Nay, nay 'twas the chaffinch;
And "twink! twink!" he cries, As he darts through the hedgerow, With fear and surprise.
See his nest, how completely
'Tis felted together,
To shield his frail offspring
From rage of the weather!
O tear not, nor touch it,
Those pale eggs pink flush'd
Are the hopes of fond parents,
Should their hopes then be crush'd?
Think, think were thy friends but
Bereav'd of their children,
How deep would their grief be,
Their thoughts how bewild'ring.
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