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A book of Bristol sonnets

By H. D. Rawnsley

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MADLLE. ALBANI,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


113

MADLLE. ALBANI,

AT THE BRISTOL FESTIVAL, 1876.

Shall I go listen to the woods in Spring,
Or whistle to the Robin on the snow?
Nay, for from other tongues new songs I know,
To other hearts new sympathy can bring!
To those, for memory's swift awakening,
And hint of other worlds, large thanks I owe!
Of this sad earth, thou only canst bestow,
Fresh hope, fresh fancy, by thy carolling!
Enter the willing portals of my brain!
Oh! enter in; and thou shalt surely find
Passion to temper, broken will to bind,
Sweet thoughts to wake that long asleep have lain;
And entering there, though gaily pipe the bird,
Thy voice, swift songstress, shall alone be heard.
 

The epithet is an attempt to condense in a single word all that is meant by a well-trained, accurate voice, capable of swiftness in its runs and modulations.