 | Golden Histories, etc |  |
186
The Forest-Dream
I stood one eve within a forest's shade,
I saw the sunlight flow,
Flickering and dancing down the pillared glade,
A golden shadow, that with shadows played,
On a green floor below.
I saw the sunlight flow,
Flickering and dancing down the pillared glade,
A golden shadow, that with shadows played,
On a green floor below.
I saw the soft blue sky thro' latticed trees-
Soft sky and tender clouds;
I saw the branches tremble to the breeze.
Saw, as they trembled, still and far-off leas
To holy musings bowed.
Soft sky and tender clouds;
I saw the branches tremble to the breeze.
Saw, as they trembled, still and far-off leas
To holy musings bowed.
The sweetness and the quiet of the place
Deep thro' my soul had gone,
Till, in some world not ours, I seemed to trace
The skirts of parting glory, saw the face
Of glory coming on.
Deep thro' my soul had gone,
Till, in some world not ours, I seemed to trace
The skirts of parting glory, saw the face
Of glory coming on.
187
“Ah me!” I said, “how beautiful and glad
“This sylvan realm might be,
“Peopled with shapes too holy to be sad—
“Shapes lovely as the fabled Foreworld had,
“When Fancy yet was free.
“This sylvan realm might be,
“Peopled with shapes too holy to be sad—
“Shapes lovely as the fabled Foreworld had,
“When Fancy yet was free.
“Some pastoral quaint of ancient Greece were fit
“To be enacted here;
“Or haply here the Fairy Court might sit,
“Or fairy children flowery garlands knit,
“To lead the silk-necked steer;
“To be enacted here;
“Or haply here the Fairy Court might sit,
“Or fairy children flowery garlands knit,
“To lead the silk-necked steer;
“Or yet more fit, amid a scene so calm,
“Might deep-winged angels stand,
“Or dance, as in great Milton's lofty psalm,
“Face fronting face, and palm enfolding palm,
“A holy happy band.”
“Might deep-winged angels stand,
“Or dance, as in great Milton's lofty psalm,
“Face fronting face, and palm enfolding palm,
“A holy happy band.”
So mused I, in that sacred forest shade,
When suddenly I heard
Low voices murmuring down the pillared glade,
While, mixed with song, soft music round me played,
Till flowers and leaves were stirred.
When suddenly I heard
Low voices murmuring down the pillared glade,
While, mixed with song, soft music round me played,
Till flowers and leaves were stirred.
See! through the boughs that part on every side,
What children come this way?
See, how the forest opens far and wide
For entrance to the joyous shapes that glide
Into its emerald day.
What children come this way?
See, how the forest opens far and wide
For entrance to the joyous shapes that glide
Into its emerald day.
188
Ah! see what pictures hang upon the air,
Making the sunset dim;
Full eyes, all loaded with dark light, are there,
That gleam mysterious under golden hair,
Round cheek and rosy limb.
Making the sunset dim;
Full eyes, all loaded with dark light, are there,
That gleam mysterious under golden hair,
Round cheek and rosy limb.
Ah, happy steer! by gentle children led,
And wreathed with flowery chain,
Slant ever thus thy meek and graceful head,
And bear us to some Eden, long, long fled,
Or bring it back again.
And wreathed with flowery chain,
Slant ever thus thy meek and graceful head,
And bear us to some Eden, long, long fled,
Or bring it back again.
O wonder not, tho' heaven should open wide,
And o'er its flaming wall,
A wingèd messenger should downward glide,
Angels with children—angels, too, abide,
Or come when children call.
And o'er its flaming wall,
A wingèd messenger should downward glide,
Angels with children—angels, too, abide,
Or come when children call.
Pass on, O Dream of antique truth and love!
Fade, cherub, with thy flowers!
Pass on, O gracious creatures! as ye move,
Fair boys with garlands sing of worlds above,
And bring them down to ours.
Fade, cherub, with thy flowers!
Pass on, O gracious creatures! as ye move,
Fair boys with garlands sing of worlds above,
And bring them down to ours.
Pass on, pass on, with merry shout and play!
Pass on, with flute and reed!
Thro' the long forest aisles ye fade away,
Sweet sounds! sweet shapes!—ye fade with fading day,
And leave us poor, indeed!
Pass on, with flute and reed!
Thro' the long forest aisles ye fade away,
Sweet sounds! sweet shapes!—ye fade with fading day,
And leave us poor, indeed!
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