 | Poems |  |
58
AT THE SPRING.
I knew a cumbrous hill,
From whose green breast did daintily distill
A throbbing rill.
From whose green breast did daintily distill
A throbbing rill.
This is the artery,
And further on the crystal heart must be,
Thought said to me.
And further on the crystal heart must be,
Thought said to me.
All other I forsook,
To follow every twist and curious nook
Of this wild brook.
To follow every twist and curious nook
Of this wild brook.
59
Among deep mosses set,
I found the glimmering fount that did beget
The rivulet.
I found the glimmering fount that did beget
The rivulet.
No other eye had known
Its secret, nor ear heard, for it made moan
Always alone.
Its secret, nor ear heard, for it made moan
Always alone.
I quaffed its waters clear:
Its limpid music babbled to mine ear
With voice sincere.
Its limpid music babbled to mine ear
With voice sincere.
Then such a silence fell
Upon me, mantling me, as where a spell
Is wont to dwell.
Upon me, mantling me, as where a spell
Is wont to dwell.
Yet fled I from the place
At a rude rustling: and fear gave me chase
In my disgrace.
At a rude rustling: and fear gave me chase
In my disgrace.
'T was a slim water-snake
Slipt like an arrow through the shivering brake,
And left no wake.
Slipt like an arrow through the shivering brake,
And left no wake.
60
But cleft the placid spring
And waved its flaming sword, its forked sting,
In a charmed ring.
And waved its flaming sword, its forked sting,
In a charmed ring.
[OMITTED]
So was the fountain spoiled,
Within its lucid walls a devil coiled—
My trust was foiled.
Within its lucid walls a devil coiled—
My trust was foiled.
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