ODE ON INDOLENCE.

"They toil not, neither do they spin."

I.

ONE morn before me were three figures seen,
With bowed necks, and joined hands, side-fac'd;
And one behind the other stepp'd serene,

In placid sandals, and in white robes grac'd;
They pass'd, like figures on a marble urn,

When shifted round to see the other side ;
They came again; as when the urn once more
Is shifted round, the first seen shades return;
And they were strange to me, as may betide
With vases, to one deep in Phidian lore.

2.

How is it, Shadows! that I knew ye not?
How came ye muffled in so hush a mask?
Was it a silent deep-disguised plot

To steal away, and leave without a task

My idle days? Ripe was the drowsy hour;

The blissful cloud of summer-indolence

Benumb'd my eyes; my pulse grew less and less;

Pain had no sting, and pleasure's wreath no flower :
O, why did ye not melt, and leave me sense

Unhaunted quite of all but

nothingness?

3.

A third time pass'd they by, and, passing, turn'd
Each one the face a moment whiles to me ;

Then faded, and to follow them I burn'd

And ach'd for wings, because I knew the three;

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The first was a fair maid, and Love her name;
The second was Ambition, pale of cheek,

And ever watchful with fatigued eye;

The last, whom I love more, the more of blame
Is heaped upon her, maiden most unmeek, -

I knew to be my demon Poesy.

4.

They faded, and, forsooth!

I wanted wings:

O folly! What is Love? and where is it? And for that poor Ambition! it springs

From a man's little heart's short fever-fit;

At least for me,

so sweet as drowsy noons,

And evenings steep'd in honeyed indolence;

Oh, for an age so shelter'd from annoy,

That I may never know how change the moons,
Or hear the voice of busy common-sense!

5.

And once more came they by ; alas! wherefore?

My sleep had been embroider'd with dim dreams; My soul had been a lawn besprinkled o'er

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With flowers, and stirring shades, and baffled beams:

The morn was clouded, but no shower fell,

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Tho' in her lids hung the sweet tears of May;

The open casement press'd a new-leav'd vine,

Let in the budding warmth and throstles' lay;
O Shadows! 't was a time to bid farewell!
Upon your skirts had fallen no tears of mine.

6.

So, ye three Ghosts, adieu! Ye cannot raise
My head cool-bedded in the flowery grass;

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For I would not be dieted with praise,
A pet-lamb in a sentimental farce!
Fade softly from my eyes, and be once more
In masque-like figures on the dreamy urn;
Farewell! I yet have visions for the night,
And for the day faint visions there is store;
Vanish, ye Phantoms! from my idle spright,
Into the clouds, and never more return!

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SONG.

I.

HUSH, hush! tread softly! hush, hush, my dear!
All the house is asleep, but we know very well
That the jealous, the jealous old bald-pate may hear,
Tho' you've padded his night-cap- O sweet Isabel!
Tho' your feet are more light than a Fairy's feet,
Who dances on bubbles where brooklets meet,
Hush, hush! soft tiptoe! hush, hush, my dear!
For less than a nothing the jealous can hear.

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2.

No leaf doth tremble, no ripple is there

On the river, all's still, and the night's sleepy eye Closes up, and forgets all its Lethean care,

Charm'd to death by the drone of the humming May-fly;
And the Moon, whether prudish or complaisant,

Was fled to her bower, well knowing I want
No light in the dusk, no torch in the gloom,
But my Isabel's eyes, and her lips pulp'd with bloom.

ΙΟ

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3.

Lift the latch! ah gently! ah tenderly

sweet!

We are dead if that latchet gives one little clink! 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's take, The stock-dove shall hatch her soft brace and shall coo, While I kiss to the melody, aching all through!

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"I met a lady in the meads,

Full beautiful-a faery's child;

Her hair was long, her foot was light,

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And her eyes were wild.

5.

"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.

6.

"I set her on my pacing steed,

And nothing else saw all day long, For sideways would she lean, and sing A faery's song.

ee

7.

She found me roots of relish sweet,

And honey wild, and manna-dew, And sure in language strange she said 'I love thee true.'

ee

8.

She took me to her elfin grot,

And there she gaz'd and sighed deep, And there I shut her wild wild eyes,

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So kiss'd to sleep.

9.

And there we slumber'd on the moss,

And there I dream'dah! woe betide!

The latest dream I ever dream'd

On the cold hill's side.

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