 | The defence of Rome |  |
73
TO THE WEST WIND.
Thy name is sweet in song, ‘wind of the western sea,’
But not as those sweet songs call call I to-night to thee,
I to no nursling's nest, no love-enfolded home,
Beckon the beat of thy wings to sweep o'er the flying foam.
But not as those sweet songs call call I to-night to thee,
I to no nursling's nest, no love-enfolded home,
Beckon the beat of thy wings to sweep o'er the flying foam.
Sweep onward o'er the land, yet another sea sweep o'er,
Greet her I greeted once but now may greet no more,
Mingle thy sighs with hers, if yet her breast can sigh,
And breathe upon her brows, West Wind, breathe tenderly.
Greet her I greeted once but now may greet no more,
Mingle thy sighs with hers, if yet her breast can sigh,
And breathe upon her brows, West Wind, breathe tenderly.
I see her stand in the twilight and gaze from the alien shore,
Her sweet eyes dim with watching and her heart with sorrow sore:
For the pang of an ancient longing, thro' the dreary day represt,
At the tender touch of the even has risen and rent her breast.
Her sweet eyes dim with watching and her heart with sorrow sore:
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At the tender touch of the even has risen and rent her breast.
Surely her eyes were soft, surely her voice was mild,
And her heart crystal-clear as the holy heart of a child,
And the stars beheld her praying, the morning and evening star;
But the burden of time was heavy, the hand of God was afar.
And her heart crystal-clear as the holy heart of a child,
And the stars beheld her praying, the morning and evening star;
But the burden of time was heavy, the hand of God was afar.
Therefore I would, strong Wind, that the rush of thy wandering wings
Might seize and sweep her away from all these evil things:
She was ever more spirit than earth, and the fetters of earth are outworn;
Let her spirit arise and be free, as a breath with thy breath to be borne.
Might seize and sweep her away from all these evil things:
She was ever more spirit than earth, and the fetters of earth are outworn;
Let her spirit arise and be free, as a breath with thy breath to be borne.
| The defence of Rome | |