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 | The poetical works of William H. C. Hosmer |  |
319
UNDINE.
“Thy themes—
Subjects of old romance, and ocean's realm,
A spacious province, where the wandering thought
And 'wilder'd fancy, erring, may be lost,
Are without limit.”—
Simms.
Subjects of old romance, and ocean's realm,
A spacious province, where the wandering thought
And 'wilder'd fancy, erring, may be lost,
Are without limit.”—
Simms.
I have brought, I have brought,
In my pearl-studded car,
Proud spoils for the lost one,
From grottoes of spar—
To shroud her cold bosom
A raiment of flowers
That blush, fading never,
In coralline bowers.
In my pearl-studded car,
Proud spoils for the lost one,
From grottoes of spar—
To shroud her cold bosom
A raiment of flowers
That blush, fading never,
In coralline bowers.
I have brought, I have brought
From the stillness of cells,
Whose roofs are encrusted
With rainbow-like shells,
Bright gems to inweave
Her long tresses of gold
That lie on a forehead
Pale, pulseless and cold.
From the stillness of cells,
Whose roofs are encrusted
With rainbow-like shells,
Bright gems to inweave
Her long tresses of gold
That lie on a forehead
Pale, pulseless and cold.
When the blue, upper waters
From slumber arise,
And Death paints with ominous
Sable, the skies—
When the tall bark contends
With the storm-fiend in vain,
Her home will be quiet
Far down in the main.
From slumber arise,
And Death paints with ominous
Sable, the skies—
When the tall bark contends
With the storm-fiend in vain,
Her home will be quiet
Far down in the main.
Her wave-girdled couch,
When the water-snake trails,
Will flash with the glitter
Of rainbow-like scales—
And here amidst forests
That never knew blight,
The dolphin will leave a
Broad pathway of light.
When the water-snake trails,
Will flash with the glitter
Of rainbow-like scales—
320
That never knew blight,
The dolphin will leave a
Broad pathway of light.
Though dead is the pulse
In her death-frosted veins,
I will guard, from the tooth
Of decay, her remains—
And preserve by the might
Of a wonderful charm,
Her freshness of cheek and
Her fullness of arm.
In her death-frosted veins,
I will guard, from the tooth
Of decay, her remains—
And preserve by the might
Of a wonderful charm,
Her freshness of cheek and
Her fullness of arm.
When months, years and ages,
Like shadows, have fled,
Her lip shall retain its
Voluptuous red;
And beauty will dimple
Her face with a smile,
When the palace lies low,
In her own native isle.
Like shadows, have fled,
Her lip shall retain its
Voluptuous red;
And beauty will dimple
Her face with a smile,
When the palace lies low,
In her own native isle.
Sweetly mournful shall steal,
Through the waters by day,
From the hall of the wave-sylph
Some heart-piercing lay;
And delicate sprites,
In the red coral bower,
Will chant for the lost
Maiden, dirges of power.
Through the waters by day,
From the hall of the wave-sylph
Some heart-piercing lay;
And delicate sprites,
In the red coral bower,
Will chant for the lost
Maiden, dirges of power.
Nigh her couch of repose,
The blue shark will be made
By the magical wand of
Dread Undine afraid—
For I am the spirit
Whose mystical sway
The hell-guided agents
Of ruin obey.
The blue shark will be made
By the magical wand of
Dread Undine afraid—
For I am the spirit
Whose mystical sway
The hell-guided agents
Of ruin obey.
| The poetical works of William H. C. Hosmer | |