 | Three unpublished poems by Austin Dobson |  |
RICHMOND HILL
On Richmond hill, thro' winding ways,
I watch the river gleam and blaze;
And, changing as the light winds blow,
The moist and lavish scene below
Fade into deeps of vaporous haze.
I watch the river gleam and blaze;
And, changing as the light winds blow,
The moist and lavish scene below
Fade into deeps of vaporous haze.
Down the near slope the cattle graze,
And still, as in old April days,
I hear the thrushes fluting slow
On Richmond hill.
And still, as in old April days,
I hear the thrushes fluting slow
On Richmond hill.
Ah, let the restless climber praise
His toilsome Alps and Himalays;
Let the wan tourist hurrying go
Betwixt the Tiber and the Po;—
My steadfast foot unwearied strays
On Richmond Hill!
His toilsome Alps and Himalays;
Let the wan tourist hurrying go
Betwixt the Tiber and the Po;—
My steadfast foot unwearied strays
On Richmond Hill!
TO VENUS
How comes it that, though pale with years,
With scant locks than the sun more white,
Still, still in me some fair maid stirs
A new delight;
With scant locks than the sun more white,
Still, still in me some fair maid stirs
A new delight;
As though youth's sacred fire once more
Burned in my blood; and should she deign,
Pitying, in my dull ear to pour
Kind words again,
Burned in my blood; and should she deign,
Pitying, in my dull ear to pour
Kind words again,
Self-borne on soft Favonian airs
This heart, no more by age opprest,
Filled with unused delicious cares,
Throbs in my breast.
This heart, no more by age opprest,
Filled with unused delicious cares,
Throbs in my breast.
Thus spake I. Cytherea then,
Sweet-smiling: “Seeing you revere
My godhead, and, alone of men,
With vow sincere,
Sweet-smiling: “Seeing you revere
My godhead, and, alone of men,
With vow sincere,
Render chaste love its due,—Old Age,
While yet your flame of life endure,
Shall bate no whit that instinct sage,
Devout and pure,
While yet your flame of life endure,
Shall bate no whit that instinct sage,
Devout and pure,
For me, though mortals have profaned
My gift, yet earth esteems me one
Heaven-born, whose grace may yet be gained
By service done.
My gift, yet earth esteems me one
Heaven-born, whose grace may yet be gained
By service done.
Believe it: in celestial halls
Love enters gladly; therefore be
Your worship whatsoe'er recalls
Image of me!
Love enters gladly; therefore be
Your worship whatsoe'er recalls
Image of me!
VILLANELLE
When I first saw your eyes,
You were then but a child:
Time changes; Time tries.
You were then but a child:
Time changes; Time tries.
You were pure from disguise:
O the deeps undefiled
When I first saw your eyes!
O the deeps undefiled
When I first saw your eyes!
Now your hand is a prize,
Now your heart is beguiled:
Time changes; Time tries.
Now your heart is beguiled:
Time changes; Time tries.
You have learned to despise:
Not as now had you smiled
When I first saw your eyes.
Not as now had you smiled
When I first saw your eyes.
You are cold, you are wise:
Yet you were but a child
When I first saw your eyes.
Time changes; Time tries.
Yet you were but a child
When I first saw your eyes.
Time changes; Time tries.
| Three unpublished poems by Austin Dobson | |