None gazeth-save the pale-eyed stars and thee, What time thou sitt'st in moveless reverie, When all the voices of the day are gone. Rest thee, once more, unmindful of the tread Of one who loves like thee this silent scene For its wide silence! Seek thine ancient bed, There come no saddening dreams of what hath been. Thou'rt on the wing, and chilly-finger'd fear best reason as if ill were near. Holds my THE LARK. Shakspeare. Lo! here the gentle Lark, weary of rest, Who doth the world so gloriously behold, That cedar-tops and hills seem burnish'd gold. THE SWALLOW. Cowley. FOOLISH prater, what dost thou With thy tuneless serenade? Well 't had been had Tereus made Thee as dumb as Philomel; There his knife had done but well. In thy undiscover'd nest Thou dost all the winter rest, And dreamest o'er thy summer joys, Hadst thou all the charming notes All thy art could never pay What thou hast ta'en from me away. Cruel bird! thou'st ta'en away Nothing half so sweet or fair, Nothing half so good can'st bring, Though men say thou bring'st the spring. THE GOLDFINCH. Hurdis. I LOVE to see the little Goldfinch pluck HAIL, beauteous stranger of the grove! Thou messenger of Spring! Now Heaven repairs thy rural seat, What time the daisy decks the green, Thy certain voice we hear; Or mark thy rolling year ? Delightful visitant! with thee I hail the time of flowers, And hear the sound of music sweet The school-boy, wandering through the wood, To pull the primrose gay, Starts the new voice of Spring to hear, And imitates thy lay. What time the pea puts on the bloom Thou fliest thy vocal vale; An annual guest in other lands, Sweet bird! thy bower is ever green Thy sky is ever clear; Thou hast no sorrow in thy song, O could I fly, I'd fly with thee! |