Comic Tales and Lyrical Fancies including The Chessiad, a Mock-Heroic, in Five Cantos; and The Wreath of Love, in Four Cantos. By C. Dibdin, the Younger |
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LINES,
On seeing a young Lady, who was blind, playing on the Lute. |
 | Comic Tales and Lyrical Fancies |  |
249
LINES, On seeing a young Lady, who was blind, playing on the Lute.
And thou, in darkness wrapt, dost wake
The lute, and smile with tranquil joy;
While me thy strains so pensive make
I sigh, while watching thy employ;
Wondering that thou canst feel such calm delight,
Whose every day is but a sleepless night!
The lute, and smile with tranquil joy;
While me thy strains so pensive make
I sigh, while watching thy employ;
Wondering that thou canst feel such calm delight,
Whose every day is but a sleepless night!
Yet, one bright gift if Heaven resume,
Some sense retain'd more vigorous grows;
New splendour may the mind illume
When vision's orbs in darkness close;
Some meteor thus on midnight pours its ray;
So the dark seer through night saw clearest day.
Some sense retain'd more vigorous grows;
New splendour may the mind illume
When vision's orbs in darkness close;
Some meteor thus on midnight pours its ray;
So the dark seer through night saw clearest day.
250
Great Handel, in the ebon shade,
Imagin'd such a soul of sound,
As if a giant had been made
Of cloud, yet all-substantial found.
Mind's radiance lit him to explore
Regions of harmony unknown before.
Imagin'd such a soul of sound,
As if a giant had been made
Of cloud, yet all-substantial found.
Mind's radiance lit him to explore
Regions of harmony unknown before.
And awful Milton, vision-seal'd,
Soar'd nearer Heaven than before;
Diviner attributes reveal'd,
And, like his Samson, when no more
He saw, a prodigy display'd
That cast his former wond'rous deeds in shade!
Soar'd nearer Heaven than before;
Diviner attributes reveal'd,
And, like his Samson, when no more
He saw, a prodigy display'd
That cast his former wond'rous deeds in shade!
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