 | The Poetical Works of Laman Blanchard |  |
179
LEISURE AND LOVE.
Sooth 'twere a pleasant life to lead,
With nothing in the world to do,
But just to blow a shepherd's reed
The silent seasons through,
And just to drive a flock to feed—
Sheep, quiet, fond, and few!
With nothing in the world to do,
But just to blow a shepherd's reed
The silent seasons through,
And just to drive a flock to feed—
Sheep, quiet, fond, and few!
Pleasant to breathe beside a brook,
And count the bubbles-love-worlds-there;
To muse upon some minstrel's book,
Or watch the haunted air;
To slumber in some leafy nook-
Or, idle anywhere.
And count the bubbles-love-worlds-there;
To muse upon some minstrel's book,
Or watch the haunted air;
To slumber in some leafy nook-
Or, idle anywhere.
And then a draught of nature's wine,
A meal of summer's daintiest fruit;
To take the air with forms divine;
Clouds, silvery, cool, and mute;
Descending, if the night be fine,
In a star-parachute.
A meal of summer's daintiest fruit;
To take the air with forms divine;
Clouds, silvery, cool, and mute;
Descending, if the night be fine,
In a star-parachute.
180
Give me to live with love alone,
And let the world go dine and dress;
For love hath lowly haunts-a stone
Holds something meant to bless.
If life's a flower, I choose my own—
'Tis ‘Love in Idleness!’
And let the world go dine and dress;
For love hath lowly haunts-a stone
Holds something meant to bless.
If life's a flower, I choose my own—
'Tis ‘Love in Idleness!’
1831.
| The Poetical Works of Laman Blanchard | |