Poems Descriptive and Lyrical. [Second Series.]

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Page 41 - THESE, as they change, Almighty Father, these Are but the varied God. The rolling year Is full of Thee. Forth in the pleasing Spring Thy beauty walks, Thy tenderness and love. Wide flush the fields ; the softening air is balm ; Echo the mountains round ; the forest smiles ; And every sense, and every heart is joy.
Page 9 - Next Marlowe, bathed in the Thespian springs, Had in him those brave translunary things That the first poets had ; his raptures were All air and fire, which made his verses clear ; For that fine madness still he did retain Which rightly should possess a poet's brain.
Page 38 - Bitter constraint, and sad occasion dear Compels me to disturb your season due: For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime, Young Lycidas, and hath not left his peer: Who would not sing for Lycidas? he knew Himself to sing, and build the lofty rhyme. He must not float upon his watery bier Unwept, and welter to the parching wind, Without the meed of some melodious tear.
Page 45 - Shed o'er the peaceful world. Then is the time, For those whom wisdom and whom nature charm, To steal themselves from the degenerate crowd, And soar above this little scene of things ; To tread low-thoughted Vice beneath their feet, To soothe the throbbing passions into peace, And woo lone Quiet in her silent walks.
Page 45 - Then came the Autumne all in yellow clad, As though he joyed in his plentious store, Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad That he had banisht hunger, which to-fore Had by the belly oft him pinched sore: Upon his head a wreath, that was enrold With ears of corne of every sort, he bore; And in his hand a sickle he did holde, To reape the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold.
Page 8 - Dead shepherd, now I find thy saw of might, Whoever loved that loved not at first sight the dead shepherd is no other than Christopher Marlowe and the "saw" a quotation from Hero and Leander.
Page 43 - The snake each year fresh skin resumes, And eagles change their aged plumes ; The faded rose each spring receives A fresh red tincture on her leaves ; But if your beauties once decay, You never know a second May.
Page 45 - That he had banished hunger, which to-fore Had by the belly oft him pinched sore. Upon his head a wreath that was enrolled With ears of corn of every sort he bore ; And in his hand a sickle he did hold, To reap the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold.

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