Madmoments: or First Verseattempts By a Bornnatural. Addressed to the Lightheaded of Society at Large, by Henry Ellison |
 | I. |
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NATURE. |
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| II. |
 | Madmoments: or First Verseattempts |  |
NATURE.
1.
Oft mighty Nature herself plays for meOveragain, the Music of the Past.
Not broken notes as erst, but the whole vast
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From the loud Thunder, to the Cricket's Glee;
And something more than this, oh something more
I hear, aud of a far diviner Power,
The touching music of Huuianity;
The deep Bass now of all her Harmonies.
In Snatches I have felt it from the first;
Oft have the Villagebells brought to mine eyes
The Tear, I knew scarce why-but it has burst
On me at length, with its full melodies;
And clearly its deep Import, not as erst
Unconsciously, in all I' recognise!
2.
What we entrust to Nature's keeping, SheWill beautify a thousandfold, for our
Enlarged Perceptions, at some future Hour;
And if from youth we walk in her ways, the
Music of our own Hearts, will blended be
With her Eternal Music; ever more,
More, clearly felt-not distinct as before,
But needful Parts of one full Harmony!
The Music which in Boyhood charmed my Ear,
The Voice of Villagebell, of Bird, and Brook,
Was set to Hopes and yearnings, which, tho' dear,
And deep, and holy, their sole Impulse took
From Home's so blessed, yet still narrow, sphere;
Music, which few beyond would care to hear!
Yet Since that too was hers, still as I grew,
Did she enlarge, as she is wont to do,
For those who put their Trust in her alone
Its sphere and compass, till it now runs thro'
The whole vast Scale, down to the smallest tone
The least, least note, to living Creature known!
Till this wide Earth seems now but as my Home,
Dear and familiar to me, as the Room,
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My Heart with those of all I loved, wàs like
A string, which Nature's Hand éen then did strike.
But now this nobler Music is set to
The Hopes and yearnings of this vaster Home,
For ever echoing up to Heavensdome,
And mingling with the music of the spheres;
Which éen the living God, delighted, hears,
The deep, sweet music of Humanity!
So deep, that its least Tone can stir to Tears!
And in its sublime swell of Harmony,
Nature, my nobler Mother grown, plays o'er
Again for me the Music sweet of yore
Not lost, but as a soft, deep Undertone
Blent with, for aye, and still more like, her own!
For that which is true to the Heart, she keeps,
In her own Blessedness and Beauty steeps;
Thus the first song that charmed our childish Ear,
Is still the sweetest Music we can hear!
| Madmoments: or First Verseattempts | |