Stones from The Quarry or, Moods of Mind. By Henry Browne [i.e. Henry Ellison] |
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ON ANNIBALE CARACCI'S LANDSCAPE IN THE
NATIONAL GALLERY: A WATER SCENE
WITH PLEASURE PARTIES. |
 | Stones from The Quarry |  |
ON ANNIBALE CARACCI'S LANDSCAPE IN THE NATIONAL GALLERY: A WATER SCENE WITH PLEASURE PARTIES.
Oh to embark with that fair-vision'd crew,
And, borne for ever, ever down yon stream,
At Heliconian sources ever new,
Beguile the quenchless thirst of Life's great dream.
How 'mid those fading hills, that to the sky
Uplift their summits, forest-crowned, to take
The kissing sun, that river glides away!
Fold upon fold, it seemeth lovingly
To clasp each rounding headland, and to make
Hill-bosomed mirrors where the shadows play.
And, borne for ever, ever down yon stream,
At Heliconian sources ever new,
Beguile the quenchless thirst of Life's great dream.
How 'mid those fading hills, that to the sky
Uplift their summits, forest-crowned, to take
The kissing sun, that river glides away!
Fold upon fold, it seemeth lovingly
To clasp each rounding headland, and to make
Hill-bosomed mirrors where the shadows play.
To what Hesperian ocean, set with isles
Fairer than those in classic legend old
Named “Fortunate,” 'mid these eternal smiles
Of Nature, does thy course, sweet river, hold?
Prescient of blessed ending, thou dost seem
To dally with thy bliss; to either shore
With moist lip murmuring thy happiness.
And oh, ye airs, that stir this pictured dream
Soft as a lover's breath, fill evermore
Those sails, and waft them beyond sight and guess.
Fairer than those in classic legend old
Named “Fortunate,” 'mid these eternal smiles
Of Nature, does thy course, sweet river, hold?
Prescient of blessed ending, thou dost seem
To dally with thy bliss; to either shore
With moist lip murmuring thy happiness.
And oh, ye airs, that stir this pictured dream
Soft as a lover's breath, fill evermore
Those sails, and waft them beyond sight and guess.
339
O still-deluding Fancy, serve me yet
Another turn, for thou hast sway o'er sense,
And mak'st thy spell-bound votary forget
The shackles which forbid his going hence.
Set me aboard that fairy-bark, with Youth,
And Hope, and Love, the rosy cherub-crew,
With soberer Faith, still steering by the stars;
And we will make a long, fair voyage for Truth,
And at the Muse's and her springs renew
Our store, behind us leaving all earth's jars.
Another turn, for thou hast sway o'er sense,
And mak'st thy spell-bound votary forget
The shackles which forbid his going hence.
Set me aboard that fairy-bark, with Youth,
And Hope, and Love, the rosy cherub-crew,
With soberer Faith, still steering by the stars;
And we will make a long, fair voyage for Truth,
And at the Muse's and her springs renew
Our store, behind us leaving all earth's jars.
| Stones from The Quarry | |