Tasso and the Sisters Tasso's Spirit: The Nuptials of Juno: The Skeletons: The Spirits of the Ocean. Poems, By Thomas Wade |
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“'Twas motion all. The restless Deep
Roll'd onward, as it ne'er could sleep;—
Each billow, with a rushing sound,
Hied towards the blue horizon round,
As if it deem'd 'twas some sweet home
Wherein it might forget to roam,
And there in blissful quiet lie
Upon the bosom of the sky.
The winds had left their tranquil slumbers,
And hurried forth in all their numbers,
Making the peaceful air unstill
And gliding o'er the earth at will;—
They stirr'd the grass of every plain,
Now sunk awhile—then rose again;
Above, around their influence cast
And mov'd the green leaves as they past,
And humble grove and forest proud
Right lowly in their presence bow'd.
Bright streams rejoic'd, and many a fountain
Was sparkling down from every mountain;
And beauteous lake and stately river
Were rippling onward, as for ever.
The Sun was striding on his way,
Surrounded by a mantle gay
Of gaudy clouds, that rose and died
Alternate by his radiant side:
The Moon at distance mov'd along,
Paler than ever, and the throng
Of hidden stars were dancing thro'
The bright, etherial fields of blue,—
All anxious for the sun-set hour,
When they regain their native pow'r,
And strive to make the reign of Night
As the proud Day's divine and bright:
And living things upon the earth
Were gambolling in their wildest mirth;
And birds were sporting in the air
And warbling all their music there:
Across the rivers, o'er the Sea
Light skiffs were gliding merrily,
And ships, with every sail unfurl'd,
Pursued their way from world to world.
'Twas motion all:—the earth and Heaven
Seemed each to restless movemet given.
Roll'd onward, as it ne'er could sleep;—
Each billow, with a rushing sound,
Hied towards the blue horizon round,
As if it deem'd 'twas some sweet home
Wherein it might forget to roam,
And there in blissful quiet lie
Upon the bosom of the sky.
The winds had left their tranquil slumbers,
And hurried forth in all their numbers,
Making the peaceful air unstill
And gliding o'er the earth at will;—
They stirr'd the grass of every plain,
Now sunk awhile—then rose again;
Above, around their influence cast
And mov'd the green leaves as they past,
And humble grove and forest proud
Right lowly in their presence bow'd.
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Was sparkling down from every mountain;
And beauteous lake and stately river
Were rippling onward, as for ever.
The Sun was striding on his way,
Surrounded by a mantle gay
Of gaudy clouds, that rose and died
Alternate by his radiant side:
The Moon at distance mov'd along,
Paler than ever, and the throng
Of hidden stars were dancing thro'
The bright, etherial fields of blue,—
All anxious for the sun-set hour,
When they regain their native pow'r,
And strive to make the reign of Night
As the proud Day's divine and bright:
And living things upon the earth
Were gambolling in their wildest mirth;
And birds were sporting in the air
And warbling all their music there:
Across the rivers, o'er the Sea
Light skiffs were gliding merrily,
And ships, with every sail unfurl'd,
Pursued their way from world to world.
'Twas motion all:—the earth and Heaven
Seemed each to restless movemet given.
“And I along the shore was roaming,
To watch the boundless Ocean foaming;
To view the bright beams of the Sun
Exulting o'er the waters run,
And look on all the beauteous strife,
Of Nature, newly sprung to life
Beneath the rosy Morning's eye,
Wide opened in the eastern sky.
I wander'd by a river's brink,
Of beauty and of love to think;
But little deem'd I soon should prove
The power of beauty and of love,
And little thought I soon should view
Th' embodied charms my fancy drew:—
But view I did; for o'er the stream,
Careering in the solar beam,
A light skiff flew, whose silken sail
Right fondly held the passing gale,
As in a prison far more sweet
Than e'er retain'd its pinions fleet:
The oars were golden and the wave
Seem'd proud that things so fair should lave
Their beauty in its sparkling tide,
And glitter o'er its surface wide.
To watch the boundless Ocean foaming;
To view the bright beams of the Sun
Exulting o'er the waters run,
And look on all the beauteous strife,
Of Nature, newly sprung to life
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Wide opened in the eastern sky.
I wander'd by a river's brink,
Of beauty and of love to think;
But little deem'd I soon should prove
The power of beauty and of love,
And little thought I soon should view
Th' embodied charms my fancy drew:—
But view I did; for o'er the stream,
Careering in the solar beam,
A light skiff flew, whose silken sail
Right fondly held the passing gale,
As in a prison far more sweet
Than e'er retain'd its pinions fleet:
The oars were golden and the wave
Seem'd proud that things so fair should lave
Their beauty in its sparkling tide,
And glitter o'er its surface wide.
“But whose the form, so rare and young,
That o'er the painted vessel hung?
Whose the red lip, and eye, that shone
Bright as the stream it look'd upon?
Oh! could each fine and thrilling word
That e'er from Spirit's tongue was heard;
Could all the noble thoughts that spring
In minds of Poets as they sing;—
All—all in one mellifluous sound
Commingled be, by skill profound,
It could not tell the matchless grace
That sparkled on that maiden's face,
As o'er the stream the vessel past,
Driven onward by the playful blast.
“Fair Spirits! by your smiles I tell
That ye do guess the sequel well.—
Not far the bark had cut its way
Ere I ador'd that maiden gay,
And gather'd from her lips and brow
A passion that enchanteth now:
At once a mutual flame was caught,
The feelings into phrensy wrought,
And love and rapture fill'd the hours
In verdant groves and rosy bowers.
That o'er the painted vessel hung?
Whose the red lip, and eye, that shone
Bright as the stream it look'd upon?
Oh! could each fine and thrilling word
That e'er from Spirit's tongue was heard;
Could all the noble thoughts that spring
In minds of Poets as they sing;—
All—all in one mellifluous sound
Commingled be, by skill profound,
It could not tell the matchless grace
That sparkled on that maiden's face,
As o'er the stream the vessel past,
Driven onward by the playful blast.
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That ye do guess the sequel well.—
Not far the bark had cut its way
Ere I ador'd that maiden gay,
And gather'd from her lips and brow
A passion that enchanteth now:
At once a mutual flame was caught,
The feelings into phrensy wrought,
And love and rapture fill'd the hours
In verdant groves and rosy bowers.
“Fair Spirits! by your smiles I see
That ye have guess'd my thoughts of glee;—
And, truly, whilst ye sadly paid
Deep homage to that lifeless maid,
And wept, right sorrowful, to trace
The paleness of her faded face,
Where beauty once appear'd divine,
Far merrier reveries were mine:—
For I was musing on the hour
When last with every beauteous flower
I deck'd my Laura's ringlets bright
—With violets blue and roses white;—
And prest her lip, and watch'd her eye,
And hearken'd to her gentle sigh;—
And rapture, love, a world of bliss
Were centred in one glowing kiss!
Rare thoughts, gay Spirits!—tho' the wreck
Of loveliness was nigh to check
My roving fancy;—tho' the Chief
Of the wild Waves was mute for grief,
And matchless eyes were wet the while,—
Despite of all, I could but smile:
Sweet flowers will show that Spring is near,
And smiles betray the thoughts that cheer.”
That ye have guess'd my thoughts of glee;—
And, truly, whilst ye sadly paid
Deep homage to that lifeless maid,
And wept, right sorrowful, to trace
The paleness of her faded face,
Where beauty once appear'd divine,
Far merrier reveries were mine:—
For I was musing on the hour
When last with every beauteous flower
I deck'd my Laura's ringlets bright
—With violets blue and roses white;—
And prest her lip, and watch'd her eye,
And hearken'd to her gentle sigh;—
And rapture, love, a world of bliss
Were centred in one glowing kiss!
Rare thoughts, gay Spirits!—tho' the wreck
Of loveliness was nigh to check
My roving fancy;—tho' the Chief
Of the wild Waves was mute for grief,
And matchless eyes were wet the while,—
Despite of all, I could but smile:
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And smiles betray the thoughts that cheer.”
| Tasso and the Sisters | |