THE CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. CANTO I. The Castle hight of Indolence, And its false luxury; I. O MORTAL man, who livest here by toil, For, though sometimes it makes thee weep and wail, II. In lowly dale, fast by a river's side, With woody hill o'er hill encompass'd round, Than whom a fiend more fell is nowhere found. And there a season atween June and May, Half prankt with spring, with summer half imbrown'd, A listless climate made, where, sooth to say, No living wight could work, ne cared even for play. III. Was nought around but images of rest: Sleep-soothing groves, and quiet lawns between; And flowery beds that slumbrous influence kest, From poppies breathed; and beds of pleasant green, Where never yet was creeping creature seen. Meantime, unnumber'd glittering streamlets play'd, And hurl'd everywhere their waters sheen; That, as they bicker'd through the sunny glade, Though restless still themselves, a lulling murmur made. IV. Join'd to the prattle of the purling rills Were heard the lowing herds along the vale, V. Full in the passage of the vale, above, A sable, silent, solemn forest stood; Where nought but shadowy forms were seen to move, As Idless fancied in her dreaming mood: And up the hills, on either side, a wood Of blackening pines, aye waving to and fro, Sent forth a sleepy horror through the blood; And where this valley winded out, below, The murmuring main was heard, and scarcely heard to flow. VI. A pleasing land of drowsy head it was, Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye; For ever flushing round a summer-sky: |