University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Poetical Works of James Gates Percival

With a biographical sketch
Percival, James Gates (1795-1856)

collapse section1. 
VOL. I.
  
POETRY.
  
THE DESERTED WIFE.
  
CONSUMPTION.
  
THE CORAL GROVE.
  
[I had found out a sweet green spot]
  
THE BROKEN HEART.
  
TO SENECA LAKE.
  
[O, had I the wings of a swallow, I'd fly]
  
RETROSPECTION.
  
CALM AT SEA.
  
THE QUEEN OF FLOWERS.
  
THE SPIRIT OF THE AIR.
  
LIBERTY TO ATHENS.
  
THE GREEK EMIGRANT'S SONG.
  
ODE TO FREEDOM.
  
LOVE OF STUDY.
  
HEAVEN.
  
A PICTURE.
  
MENTAL BEAUTY.
  
MENTAL HARMONY.
  
RUINS.
  
THE VILLAGE GIRL.
  
A TALE.
  
NIGHT WATCHING.
  
PLEASURES OF CHILDHOOD.
  
VOYAGE OF LIFE.
  
A PICTURE.
  
SPIRIT OF FREEDOM.
  
HOME.
  
LOVE AT EVENING.
  
[Silent she stood before me, in the light]
  
[Star of the pensive! “melancholy star,”]
  
[“O, there is a bliss in tears!”—in tears that flow]
  
VAUCLUSE.
  
LIGHT OF LOVE.
  
FLOWER OF A SOUTHERN GARDEN.
  
ROSE OF MY HEART.
  
CATANIA.
collapse section 
SONNETS.
 1. 
[I. I stand upon the mountains, 'mid a sea]
 2. 
[II. Monarch of mountains! whose serenest brow]
 3. 
[III. My country,—at the sound of that dear name]
 4. 
[IV. Now to my task:—be firm,—the work requires]
 5. 
[V. Come forth, fair waters, from the classic spring]
 6. 
[VI. Farewell, sad flowers, that on a desert blow]
 7. 
[VII. Would I were but a spirit, veiled in light]
  
AN ODE TO MUSIC.
  
THE JUDGMENT.
  
A TRIBUTE TO THE BRAVE.
  
THE SENATE OF CALLIMACHI.
  
A PLATONIC BACCHANAL SONG.
  
[Here's to her who wore]
  
DITHYRAMBIC.
  
THE SERENADE.
  
TO THE HOUSTONIA CERULEA.
  
ON FINDING THE ANEMONE HEPATICA,
  
[A tulip blossomed, one morning in May]
  
[A lake once lay, where the thunder-clouds sail]
  
THE MERMAID.
  
LINES
  
THE PARTING OF WILLIAM AND MARY.
  
“VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY.”
  
THE FAIREST ROSE IS FAR AWA'.
  
THE FLOWER OF THE VALLEY.
  
LINES
  
[Once, on a cloudless summer-day]
  
[My heart too firmly trusted, fondly gave]
  
[How beautiful is Night!]
  
[Often, when at night delaying]
  
SONG.
  
THE LAND OF THE BLEST.
  
[My heart was a mirror, that showed every treasure]
  
[O, now's the hour, when air is sweet]
  
[O, wilt thou go with me, love]
  
[Here the air is sweet]
  
THE WANDERING SPIRIT.
  
FAREWELL TO MY LYRE.
  
[Care-worn, and sunk in deep despondency]
  
ANACREONTICS.
  
HORATIAN.
  
[Come on your sky-blue wings, ye Paphian doves!]
  
[Man is born to die]
  
['T was midnight,—and the full round moon]
  
NEW ENGLAND.
  
NAVAL ODE.
  
[Thou art endeared to me by all]
  
THE FRENCHMAN'S DARLING.
  
[Adieu! fair flower, though frail]
  
[We met in cheerless hours, my dear]
  
[O, love was made to mourn]
  
TRANSLATION OF A LATIN ODE.
  
THE SABBATH.
  
[O Evening! thou art lovely:—in thy dress]
  
[Empress of night! I saw thee through the rack]
  
[Star of the dewy morning! from thy sphere]
  
A REVERIE.
  
[Motherless infant, to the quiet sleep]
  
[Image of calm devotion, on thy brow]
collapse section 
SONNETS.
 1. 
[I. Winter is now around me, and the snow]
 2. 
[II. Its bitterness the heart alone can know]
 3. 
[III. What bird can sing when storms are in the sky]
 4. 
[IV. The blue heaven spreads before me, with its keen]
  
MAID OF YEMEN.
  
FREEDOM.
  
[Give the Warrior Chief his due]
  
[Hail to the land of the free and the bold]
  
[I saw the sun, at the dawning of day]
  
[Two flowers were budding on on stem]
  
[I found thee on an apple-tree]
  
[Sweet, sainted haunt of early days!]
  
[I saw, upon a mountain]
  
[I will go to the grave where my child has gone]
  
THE CARRIER PIGEON.
  
[These weeping skies, these weeping skies]
  
[Fair breaks the morning on my eye]
  
[Now the setting sun is glowing]
  
SONG OF THE REIM-KENNAR.
  
[The wave is resting on the sea]
  
[There's a valley that lies in the bosom of hills]
  
[I would follow the sun when the north winds arise]
  
THE PIRATE LOVER.
  
THE FAREWELL.
  
[Let us love while life is young]
  
[Thy charms are all decaying, love]
  
THE LUNATIC GIRL.
  
[Come to my heart, thou stricken deer!]
  
[O Mary, my dearest! though waves roll between us]
  
[Dove of my heart! I've built a nest]
  
[She has no heart, but she is fair]
  
[The winds of the winter are over]
  
[The dark cloud is over, the storm flies away]
  
[The frenzy of a lover who can tell?]
  
[They gazed upon each other. They were young]
  
[Beneath the pensive willow's shade]
  
PARAPHRASE OF ISAIAH XXXIV.
  
RELIGION.
  
[In wisdom God hath made the world]
  
[There is an infant, pillowed sweetly]
  
HOLY DYING.
  
S. M. A. M. FISHER.
  
CARMEN SECULARE.
  
[There is a calm lagoon]
  
[All live and move to the poetic eye.]
  
[I saw, on the top of a mountain high]
  
SONNET.
  
SONNET.
  
GENIUS SLUMBERING.
  
GREECE, FROM MOUNT HELICON.
  
THE PARTHENON.
  
THE SUNIAN PALLAS.
  
THE GREEK MOUNTAINEERS.
  
THE LAST SONG OF THE GREEK PATRIOT.
  
GRECIAN LIBERTY.
  
HELLAS.
  
ODE.
  
ODE.
collapse section 
SEA PICTURES.
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
 3. 
III.
  
A FRAGMENT.
  
THE MYTHOLOGY OF GREECE.
  
PAINTING.
  
MUSINGS.
  
[She faded, but in beauty;—not a charm]
  
[She was the first I loved; but years had gone]
  
[He had a twofold nature, and the one]
  
INSCRIPTION.
  
A FRAGMENT.
  
THE DEATH OF A CHILD.
  
CLOUDS.
  
THE GRAVES OF THE PATRIOTS.
  
THE DESOLATE CITY.
  
MORNING AMONG THE HILLS.
  
THE PERPETUAL YOUTH OF NATURE.
  
ITALY.
  
THE FAIR ITALIAN.
  
INSCRIPTION.
  
A VISION.
collapse section 
DREAMS.
 1. 
I.
 2. 
II.
 3. 
III.
collapse section 
SONNETS.
 1. 
[I. If on the clustering curls of thy dark hair]
 2. 
[II. Oh! I could wish I sat upon yon cloud]
 3. 
[III. Thy form may fade, but thou wilt not all die]
 4. 
[IV. If, when I look on thee, and hear thy voice]
 5. 
[V. Calm look of gentleness!—I see thee now]
 6. 
[VI. Green herbs and flowers new opening, ye have known]
 7. 
[VII. O Love! thou art a pure and holy thing]
  
[When the woodlands are covered with leaves and flowers]
  
SPRING.
  
THE REIGN OF MAY.
  
TRUE GREATNESS.
  
[There is nothing can equal the tender hours]
  
[Dear moments of childhood! how sweetly ye smile]
  
[Come from thy home in the far blue sky]
  
[Thou hast come from thy home in the far blue sky]
  
[Soul of the lyre and song!]
  
[I looked on the broad setting sun]
  
[Thou glorious spirit of life and love!]
  
[Where hast thou been on thy rainbow wing]
  
THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.
  
[Spirit of high and mighty souls!]
  
[Had I the pinions of an eagle's wing]
  
ON THE DEATH OF ---.
  
THE LAST DAYS OF AUTUMN.
  
THE SOUL OF SONG.
  
MORNING TWILIGHT.
  
[Where are now the flowers that once detained me]
  
INSPIRATION.
  
REMORSE.
  
A FANCY-PIECE.
  
SPIRIT OF MAY.
  
[Shall I gather the rose of the mountain]
  
TO A SHIP, ON GOING TO SEA.
  
APOSTROPHE TO THE ISLAND OF CUBA.
  
TO MELANTHE.
  
SONNET.
collapse section 
CANZONETS.
 2. 
II.
  
SONNET.
  
THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS.
  
[Every day I muse upon thee]
  
HOME.
  
THE FLIGHT OF TIME.
  
FADING FLOWERS.
  
MOONLIGHT IN A WOOD.
  
THE CONTRAST.
  
MY NATIVE LAND.
  
ODE.
  
ODE.
  
WASHINGTON'S NAME.
  
LIBERTY.
  
THE GREEK SONG OF VICTORY.
  
BIRTHDAY OF LINNÆUS.
  
HOPE OF FAME.
  
THE VOICE OF LOVE.
  
Ο ΚΟΣΜΟΣ.
collapse section 
SONNETS.
 1. 
[I. Is it not true, as one has proudly sung]
 2. 
[II. O thou sole-sitting Spirit of Loneliness]
collapse section2. 
VOL. II.
  
PROMETHEUS.
  
THE MIND.
  
THE SUICIDE.
  
THE WRECK.
collapse section 
THE DREAM OF A DAY, AND OTHER POEMS. FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1843.
  
THE DREAM OF A DAY.
  
GENIUS WAKING.
  
TO THE EAGLE.
  
SENECA LAKE.
  
LAYS OF THE SEASONS.
  
THE LIGHT GUITAR.
  
THE VINTAGE DANCE.
  
SONG.
  
SONG.
  
TO A BUTTERFLY.
  
THE VOICE OF NATURE.
  
SONG.
  
SONG.
  
SAPPHO.
collapse section 
SONNETS.
 1. 
[I. O, there are moments, when the dreaming soul]
 2. 
[II. O Evening! I have loved thee with a joy]
 3. 
[III. O, there are tears of joy, and they are fed]
 4. 
[IV. O would that dreams were not the things they are]
 5. 
[V. Shadows of hoary forests, solemn haunts]
 6. 
[VI. My soul goes often wandering to your glooms]
 7. 
[VII. Am I not all alone? The world is still]
 8. 
[VIII. Deep sunk in thought, he sat beside the river]
 9. 
[IX. Whence? Whither? Where?—A taper point of light]
  
THE CONTRAST.
  
BALLAD.
collapse section 
SONGS.
 1. 
[I. O Guadalaxara!]
 2. 
[II. Murmuring river]
 3. 
[III. Music and dances]
  
GREEK APPEAL TO AMERICA.
  
OUR FLAG.
  
SPRING.
  
YOUTH RECALLED.
  
A VISION.
  
THE POET'S WORLD.
  
MINNESONG.
  
THE KNIGHT.
  
LIFE'S DREAM.
  
THE HEXLI. (LITTLE WITCH.)
  
THE MAIDEN.
  
THE POWER OF SONG.
collapse section 
LAYS.
 1. 
[I. Mellow fades the glow of even]
 2. 
[II. Hark! the song]
 3. 
[III. Through the wood, in evening's shadow, straying]
 4. 
[IV. Speed thee far]
 5. 
[V. O that I lay on yonder mountain]
 6. 
[VI. They call me,—they call me, from meadow and grove]
 7. 
[VII. “O, rest thee here in silent bower]
 8. 
[VIII. The song is still, that over heath and mountain]
 9. 
[IX. Night is on the hill]
 10. 
[X. Bells are ringing]
 11. 
[XI. The snow is gone]
 12. 
[XII. Give me that fond music]
 13. 
[XIII. Morning is lightest]
 14. 
[XIV. 'T is dawn]
 15. 
[XV. Joy! Joy!]
 16. 
[XVI. Faintly breathes the maiden's song]
 17. 
[XVII. In sheeted gold the river glides]
 18. 
[XVIII. Sitting by a meadow brook]
 19. 
[XIX. How gentle the water's motion]
 20. 
[XX. The night is still:—on meadow and silvery fountain]
 21. 
[XXI. Over hill and plain and mountain]
 22. 
[XXII. From rock rebounding]
collapse section 
SLAVONIA.
collapse section1. 
PART I.
 1. 
[I. Near Moskva's stream, through heath and forest gliding]
 2. 
[II. Inspiring Spirit! thou art everywhere]
 3. 
[III. What is that descending yonder mountain?]
 4. 
[IV. Still Spring returns, and scatters wide its roses]
 5. 
[V. By Muldava trips a rose-lipped maiden]
collapse section2. 
PART II.
collapse section 
RUSSIA.
 1. 
[I. Still burns the prophet's fire, as when of old]
 2. 
[II. Not the trumpet calls to fight]
collapse section 
SERVIA.
 1. 
[I. Go forth, and ask no blessing on thy sword]
 2. 
[II. For faith and fame! be that the cry]
collapse section 
POLAND.
 1. 
[I. Thou standest as a castle on a rock]
 2. 
[II. Vengeance calls you! quick, be ready]
collapse section 
BOHEMIA.
 1. 
[I. The rose now blooms,—with love my bosom heaves]
 2. 
[II. A holy feeling leads them on]
collapse section 
TEUTONIA.
  
HOPE.
  
SKATING.
  
THE CHARGE.
  
THE WILD HUNTER.
  
THE HUNTER DEATH.
  
THE BARD.
collapse section 
SONGS
 1. 
I. THE BOATMAN.
 2. 
II. WINTER EVENING.
 3. 
III. EVENING.
 4. 
[IV. O the days of blooming youth are gone]
 5. 
[V. O, how softly sweet the song is flowing]
 6. 
[VI. The night is dark; the hollow wind]
 7. 
[VII. O come, loved Spirit, come to me]
 8. 
[VIII. Wife! I am dying]
 9. 
IX. EVENING.
 10. 
X. AWAKE, MY LYRE.
 11. 
XI. HUNTING SONG.
 12. 
XII. MEMORY.
 13. 
XIII. THE GERMAN EMIGRANT'S SONG.
 14. 
XIV. THE HARPER.
 15. 
[XV. That strain o' music greets my ear]
 16. 
[XVI. An' hae ye heard the bonnie birds]
 17. 
XVII. THE SPIRITS' LULLABY.
 18. 
[XVIII. Softly flow, thou gentle river]
 19. 
[XIX. Once I saw, in pride of beauty]
 20. 
[XX. Once, in the heart of a desert]
 21. 
[XXI. When the violet blows]
  
THE SISTER SPIRITS.
collapse section 
CLASSIC MELODIES.
collapse section1. 
PART I.
  
ELEGIAC.
  
IAMBIC.
  
ANACREONTIC.
collapse section 
ANAPESTIC.
 1. 
[I. In the silence of night, and in solemn array, by the glimmer of torches, is wheeling]
 2. 
[II. O, waken the music of battle]
collapse section 
TROCHAIC.
 1. 
[I. Softly sweet the song is stealing, softly through the night afar]
 2. 
[II. Maids are sitting by the fountain]
 3. 
[III. See the bounding bark afloat]
collapse section2. 
PART II.
collapse section 
DACTYLIC HEXAMETER.
 1. 
I. Heroic.
 2. 
[II. Deep, 'mid the shades of night, I sink in silent repose]
 3. 
[III. Still, as in youth, ever green, the laurel of Homer is flourishing]
 4. 
[IV. Herald of earliest dawn! at thy smile the blue waters are stirring again]
  
DACTYLIC PENTAMETER.
  
DACTYLIC TETRAMETER.
collapse section 
IAMBIC TETRAMETER.
 1. 
[I. Aurora rises o'er the hills, by graceful hours attended]
 2. 
[II. O, turn not, dearest, on me so!—I cannot bear that grief of thine]
collapse section 
CHORIAMBIC.
 1. 
[I. Bear me afar over the wave, far to the sacred islands]
 2. 
[II. When the blue wave sinks on the sea, and the still night hushes the deep]
  
CHORIAMBIC POLYSCHEMATIST.
collapse section 
GLYCONIC AND PHERECRATEAN.
 1. 
[I. Hark! the echo of shout and song]
 2. 
[II. Bright ascends the festal dawn; bright the temple is flashing]
  
EUPOLIDEAN AND CRATINEAN.
  
EPIONIC.
  
ASYNARTETE.
  
GALLIAMBIC.
  
SATURNIAN.
  
SAPPHIC.
  
ALCAIC.
collapse section 
ASCLEPIADIAN.
 1. 
[I. Not for wealth or for power, conquest or victory]
 2. 
[II. When the rose is in bloom, violets opening]
collapse section 
SONGS FOR NATIONAL AIRS.
collapse section 
NORWEGIAN.
 1. 
I. National Air.
 2. 
II. Mountain Air.
collapse section 
GERMAN.
 1. 
I. The Flower of Liberty.
 2. 
II. The Chain of Love.
 3. 
III. The Patriot.
 4. 
IV. Wealth of Soul.
 5. 
V. The Festive Evening.
 6. 
VI. Our Country.
 7. 
VII. Washington.
 8. 
VIII. Liberty.
 9. 
IX. The Banquet.
 10. 
X. Spring.
 11. 
XI. The Seasons.
 12. 
XII. The Boatmen of the Rhine.
 13. 
XIII. Festivity.
 14. 
XIV. Youth.
 15. 
XV. The Vintage.
 16. 
XVI. Spring.
 17. 
XVII. Evening.
 18. 
XVIII. Hope.
collapse section 
RUSSIAN.
 1. 
I. The Battle Call.
 2. 
[II. Think, O think, how much thou lov'dst me]
 3. 
III. The Willow.
collapse section 
BOHEMIAN.
 1. 
I. Bird of the Mountain.
 2. 
II. The Bird that has lost its Young.
 3. 
III. Dushka.
collapse section 
GAELIC.
 1. 
I. Homeward Bound.
 2. 
II. The Tryst.
 3. 
III. The Lover's Lament.
 4. 
IV. Clan Donnal's Gathering.
collapse section 
WELSH.
collapse section1. 
[I. Of Hoel, high and glorious, raise the pæan ]
 1. 
I. The Song of Heroes.
 2. 
II.
 2. 
II. The Bard's Song.
 3. 
III. The Song of Victory.
 4. 
IV. The Rising of the Lark.
  
THE NORNS.
collapse section 
POSTHUMOUS POEMS.
  
INVOCATION.
  
THE STARLET.
  
NATURE'S LYRE.
  
MASONIC SONGS.
  
SONG.
  
MIDNIGHT MUSIC.
collapse section 
JUVENILE POEMS.
  
AN ODE TO MELANCHOLY.
  
FRAGMENT OF AN ODE TO FANCY.
  
NAPOLEON.
  
ODE ON DEATH.
  
ODE TO RELIGION.
  
STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
  
TRUMPET OF LIBERTY.
  
ODE
  
[Day-star of Liberty! dawn on our sky]
  
ODE
  
ODE
  
SONNET TO ITALY.
  
AN ODE
  
THE DEATH OF LAWRENCE.
  
PERRY'S VICTORY ON LAKE ERIE.
  
[By the spirits of the dead]
  
ODE
  
DITHYRAMBIC.
  
LOCH MAREE.
  
[Adieu, my love, my Mary dear!]
  
HENRY AND MARY.
  
[Star of my heart! though far away]
  
[Star of my heart! thy light has gone]
  
[I thought I loved,—no form of earth]
  
[Is there a tear that scalds the cheek?]
  
[To see a dear one close her eyes]
  
[There is an hour, a heavenly hour]
  
['T is night,—but yet the moon is high]
  
THE LAMP OF LOVE.
  
THE GALLEY SLAVE.
  
ON THE DEATH OF MISS ---,
  
[Give me a lonely seat]
  
THE VIOLET.
  
[How sweet is the turf on the grave of my friend]
  
[Rest, O my lyre! till the winter of sorrow]
  
[She's gone, the idol of my heart]
  
[When the winter of sorrow's keen tempests are blowing]
  
[When I roam o'er the fields at the opening of dawn]
  
[I was once happy and blest]
  
[Arabia may boast of its coffee-clad mountains]
  
[Dear little angel of my heart]
  
[Come, come away, unto the silent grove]
  
[One evening, when the sky was blue]
  
[I love the ruddy cheek, that glows]
  
[Who is that mourner bending o'er yon grave]
  
[See, how the clear, unsullied streamlet strays]
  
TO THE ROSE.
  
[I saw a flower of softest hue]
  
TO THE GENTIANA CRINITA,
  
[Can I touch my harp again?]
  
[Give me the lyre of harmony]
  
[My heart is sad, my harp is still]
  
BOAT SONG.
  
[They say, that esteem is a diamond so bright]
  
['T is morning, and all is gay around]
  
[Why slumbers thy lyre, which so often resounded]
  
AN IMPRECATION.
  
DESPONDENCY.
  
[Methought 'twas in the desert, at the hour]
  
THE SUICIDE'S GRAVE.
  
ON MY FATHER'S TOMB.
  
[See how the floweret blushes in the morn]
  
THE MOURNER.
  
[Slow, through the twilight gloom, Valerio's knell]
  
[Hard is the Poet's fate,—but more severe]
  
[The last blue hill is fading in the sky]
collapse section 
SONNETS.
 1. 
I. THE ROSE-BUSH.
 2. 
II. THE BOWER.
 3. 
III. THE EYELID.
 4. 
[IV. Soft heaving wave, whose pure translucency]
 5. 
V. SPRING.
 6. 
VI. TO SLEEP.
 7. 
VII. TO THE GRAVE.
 8. 
[VIII. 'T is not the future dread that makes me shun]
 9. 
[IX. We think of what we might have been: the stream]
 10. 
[X. I too have seen thy ever-pouring flood]
 11. 
[XI. My hand is clasped upon my burning brow]
 12. 
XII. TO THE PIANO.
  
THE INTERLUDES OF TASSO'S AMINTA.
  
ANACREONTIC.
  
[O for a mantling bower hung by the loaded vine]
  
[High they raised the mast, and spread the white sail to the zephyr]
  
[The thirsty fields a robe of sadness wear]
  
[Here mossy fountains pour their cooling wave]
  
Happy old man! here, 'mid your well-known streams
 1. 
[I. Thou, who erst on Ætna's top]
 2. 
[II. The cypress, in its dark funereal dress]
 3. 
[III. The clouds are black in heaven, the roar of winds]
  
THE GOBLET.
  
[Expand your snowy wings, ye swans of Helicon]
  
[How happy is the pure, good man, whose life]
  
[We have a body,—and its clamorous calls]
  
[Youth sees the world before him, and the path]
  
[The stream of life that flowed on Calvary]
  
THE DRAMA.
  
[There is a world of mind, which few can know]
  
[He spake, and, springing from th' embattled ground]
  
[Malvacea calls her tribes around her throne]
  
[In endless contrariety has fled]
  
SONNET.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The Poetical Works of James Gates Percival
next section

NATURE'S LYRE.

“Is there no hand to wake my ancient lyre?”
So, through the solemn hush of midnight, came
Late to my soul a tone, that seemed, like fire,
Within my heart to light its early flame.
Far from on high it flowed, and to my ear
Bore through the dark profound the song of holiest sphere.
“Is there no hand to tune my harp again,
As once it rung on Zion's sacred hills,
Whence borne by airs from heaven o'er vale and plain,
The desert smiled, the sea was smooth and still?
Is there no voice to swell that lofty lay
Up to the golden gates of never-ending day?
“Will none awake again the heroic string,
Such as Olympus heard 'mid sky-crowned snows?
The bounding accents leap; responsive ring
Struck swords on brazen shield that burnished glows.
380

Will no proud youth take up the epic song,
And 'mid triumphal halls its wondrous charm prolong?
“Is there no lip can fill the pastoral flute,
And pour its sweetness on the vernal air;
To the blest time of loves and blossoms suit
The strain that breathes alone the soft and fair?
Is there no joyous heart to give once more
The festal hymn, that rose by myrtle-tufted shore?
“When shall the lyric trumpet, from its sleep
Start to new life, as when of old it blew
Summons to patriot souls, and stirred them deep,
That to the joy of fight, like heroes, they flew,
Whether on Ilium's glory-lighted coast,
Or where the Baltic rolls 'mid Valhall's realms of frost?
“And who is there can lead the fairy dance,
To ever-changeful notes, from citherns borne
Through the wild, tangled shadows of Romance,
Oft startled by the clang of elfin horn?
Is there a voice can render, full and free,
That song of tenderest love, and gayest revelry?
“And dare one touch the lyre of many tones,
That spake the all-meaning language of a world,
So clear and true, the song each passion owns,—
Hope's swelling lip, and pride's in anger curled?
Will none that fullest harmony display,
And lead it with strong hand careering on its way?
“Have ye, then, all forgot my ancient lyre,
To Nature's pure and simple music strung?
Have poor conceits subdued its native fire,
And a false art cold fetters round it flung?
True art is perfect nature:—wake and give
New motion to its chords, and know, thy song shall live!”
previous section The Poetical Works of James Gates Percival
next section