Gaston de Blondeville, or The court of Henry III Keeping festival in Ardenne, a romance. St. Alban's Abbey, a metrical tale; With some poetical pieces. By Anne Radcliffe ... To which is prefixed: A memoir of the author, with extracts from her journals. In four volumes |
 | I. |
 | III,IV. |
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TO THE SWALLOW. |
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 | Gaston de Blondeville, or The court of Henry III |  |
204
TO THE SWALLOW.
O happy bird! thy gay return I hail;
For now I see young Spring, with all her train
Of sports and joys, borne on the western gale,
And hear afar her sweetly warbling strain.
For now I see young Spring, with all her train
Of sports and joys, borne on the western gale,
And hear afar her sweetly warbling strain.
Once more the opening clouds shall now disclose
The heaven's blue vault—the sun's all-cheering ray:
The vales, once more, in tender green repose,
The violet wake beneath the breath of May.
The heaven's blue vault—the sun's all-cheering ray:
The vales, once more, in tender green repose,
The violet wake beneath the breath of May.
O happy bird! how playful and how light
Thy circling pinions skim the upward air;
Exulting, gay and playful in thy flight,
Companion of the Summer season fair!
Thy circling pinions skim the upward air;
Exulting, gay and playful in thy flight,
Companion of the Summer season fair!
205
Yet, while I welcome thee, and wish thee long,
I sigh to think that ere the Autumn fade,
Thou'lt seek, in other climes, a vernal song,
More gentle gales and renovated shade.
I sigh to think that ere the Autumn fade,
Thou'lt seek, in other climes, a vernal song,
More gentle gales and renovated shade.
Ev'n now I see thee on the light clouds soar,
And melt in distant æther from my view;
As laughing Summer, to the western shore,
Over the seas Biscayan you pursue.
And melt in distant æther from my view;
As laughing Summer, to the western shore,
Over the seas Biscayan you pursue.
Thy policy to us, ah! dost thou lend?
Flies thus, with gay prosperity—the friend?
Flies thus, with gay prosperity—the friend?
| Gaston de Blondeville, or The court of Henry III | |