University of Virginia Library

It ceased, and he upraised his head,
Calmly, all his passion gone,
And urged me this strange plea:—
“Tell me, why should I not
Linger awhile with her?
How beautiful she is thou seëst;
And what accomplishments are hers, what powers,
Thou also may'st behold.
Here, when we came, the hills were bare,
Slimy the lake, and cold:
She sat and sang and all things quickly changed:
The dark cloud-roof upon the mountains broke,
And all the upper azure lights of heaven
Softly down the hill sides stole,
Clothing them in hazy gold.
The lake below grew limpid clear;
And from the wonder-breeding shores
Came forth a living host,
The verdurous multitude of woods:
The hollows of the hills they peopled,
Like a flood they overbrimmed them;
And the crags they scaled,
Round them flinging arms of shade.
Then also came the flowers, I knew not whence:
Then came the birds;
O Emer, great though thine accomplishments
They are not skilled like hers.
Then leave me in this region of delight,
And love of thee will linger in my heart:
Better be loved far off than hated near;
And loving thee, perchance I shall return,
Wearied of this sweet world,
With willing footsteps to thine arms again.”