Tasso and the Sisters Tasso's Spirit: The Nuptials of Juno: The Skeletons: The Spirits of the Ocean. Poems, By Thomas Wade |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
 | Tasso and the Sisters |  |
Thus sang the Spirits:—then advanc'd,
With gentle pace, a sister band,
Which round the sleeping Maiden danc'd,
With foot to foot and hand in hand:
Their garments in the moonlight gleam'd,
And brighter than that moonlight seem'd,
All radiant ever, and no shade
By their etherial forms was made;—
And difficult it were to trace
The outline of their form and face;—
And scarce could one that gaz'd declare
Which the fine Spirits, which the air.
They parted then, and each upheld
A thread that seem'd of moon-beams wrought;—
From the fair Moon's own breast impell'd
And by those beauteous Spirits caught;—
And then in mazy rounds they went,
Whilst music sweet divinely sounded;—
Now stood erect, to earth then bent,
Then up again in concord bounded,—
And still around their footsteps light
Was drawn the thread of moon-beams bright.—
Awhile they danc'd, awhile they sang,
And music soft harmonious rang
In sweet reply, and air and sea
Seem'd hallow'd by their minstrelsy.
“Away, gay Sprites! wild Reumon said:
At once the warbling Spirits fled;—
Their voice, their lyres were heard no more,
And all was silent as before.
With gentle pace, a sister band,
Which round the sleeping Maiden danc'd,
With foot to foot and hand in hand:
Their garments in the moonlight gleam'd,
And brighter than that moonlight seem'd,
All radiant ever, and no shade
By their etherial forms was made;—
And difficult it were to trace
The outline of their form and face;—
And scarce could one that gaz'd declare
Which the fine Spirits, which the air.
They parted then, and each upheld
A thread that seem'd of moon-beams wrought;—
From the fair Moon's own breast impell'd
And by those beauteous Spirits caught;—
And then in mazy rounds they went,
Whilst music sweet divinely sounded;—
Now stood erect, to earth then bent,
Then up again in concord bounded,—
92
Was drawn the thread of moon-beams bright.—
Awhile they danc'd, awhile they sang,
And music soft harmonious rang
In sweet reply, and air and sea
Seem'd hallow'd by their minstrelsy.
“Away, gay Sprites! wild Reumon said:
At once the warbling Spirits fled;—
Their voice, their lyres were heard no more,
And all was silent as before.
| Tasso and the Sisters | |