Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
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FANCY AND FEELING. |
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 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
FANCY AND FEELING.
As torrent-streams—wild torrents flow to the ocean,
With the thunders and the lightnings of their might,
Thus to the depths of one Supreme Emotion
Flow all my thoughts—the shadowy and the bright!
With the thunders and the lightnings of their might,
Thus to the depths of one Supreme Emotion
Flow all my thoughts—the shadowy and the bright!
High in the crests and summits of the mountains,
The waters' urns may be—yet down they flow!—
In Fancy's Eyrie-heights are my Thought's fountains,
But, Oh! how swift and soon they flash below!
The waters' urns may be—yet down they flow!—
In Fancy's Eyrie-heights are my Thought's fountains,
But, Oh! how swift and soon they flash below!
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From Heaven to Earth seem rolling down those Waters
Whose course is in the mountain-heights begun;
The sky-kissed Mountains—Nature's eldest daughters—
With rosy foreheads blushing at the Sun!
Whose course is in the mountain-heights begun;
The sky-kissed Mountains—Nature's eldest daughters—
With rosy foreheads blushing at the Sun!
But, Oh! in flashing foam and hurry pouring,
Those quivering lines of Light, all scattered far,
May pause not for reflecting or adoring
Until they reach the plains that lowlier are!
Those quivering lines of Light, all scattered far,
May pause not for reflecting or adoring
Until they reach the plains that lowlier are!
Then on their calmer way to the outstretched Ocean
The smoother rivers glass—the Heavens serene—
Forgetting all their restless wild commotion,
And all o'er pictured with the ethereal scene!
The smoother rivers glass—the Heavens serene—
Forgetting all their restless wild commotion,
And all o'er pictured with the ethereal scene!
Then shines the fervid blue, the stars then glisten
Upon their surface, as in the upper Sky
They warble on their way—yet warbling listen,
Methinks, as they would learn Heaven's harmony!
Upon their surface, as in the upper Sky
They warble on their way—yet warbling listen,
Methinks, as they would learn Heaven's harmony!
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And so from Fancy's Eyrie heights descending,
As though it were indeed from Heaven to Earth,
These thoughts float down, to one emotion tending—
Destined for that, e'n from their loftiest birth!
As though it were indeed from Heaven to Earth,
These thoughts float down, to one emotion tending—
Destined for that, e'n from their loftiest birth!
But fallen from thy far heights—Imagination,
More Heavenly hues how gloriously they wear,
Losing that hurried flush of agitation
Which ruffled them before, though ever fair!
More Heavenly hues how gloriously they wear,
Losing that hurried flush of agitation
Which ruffled them before, though ever fair!
Then do they mirror back—and most serenely—
The Sunshine-skies of Beauty spread above—
Around them Love's own bowers rise freshly, greenly—
Above them, those bright Firmaments of Love!
The Sunshine-skies of Beauty spread above—
Around them Love's own bowers rise freshly, greenly—
Above them, those bright Firmaments of Love!
Thus do these thoughts, made Streams of deep Affections,
Sinking in calm humility, become
All beautiful and bright, with rich reflections
Of all that most exceeds our earthly doom!
Sinking in calm humility, become
All beautiful and bright, with rich reflections
Of all that most exceeds our earthly doom!
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'Tis not midst Fancy's Eyrie-peaks—high soaring,
That they indeed Heaven's Sun-lit smile have won;
'Tis in the smoother depths of still adoring,
When Heaven seems resting their clear glass upon!
That they indeed Heaven's Sun-lit smile have won;
'Tis in the smoother depths of still adoring,
When Heaven seems resting their clear glass upon!
My thoughts, like torrents spring, Imagination,
Even from thy mountain-summits evermore;
But drawn to one Emotion's adoration,
Like rivers seek the sea—that sea their shore!
Even from thy mountain-summits evermore;
But drawn to one Emotion's adoration,
Like rivers seek the sea—that sea their shore!
To that one passion of Emotion tending,
My thoughts forget their far and dreamy birth,
And in the depths of that Emotion ending,
They seem to bring the distant Heaven to Earth!
My thoughts forget their far and dreamy birth,
And in the depths of that Emotion ending,
They seem to bring the distant Heaven to Earth!
That which they did but seek with vain aspiring,
They then commingle with in strict embrace—
No more into themselves appear retiring—
The ethereal regions beautifying Space!
They then commingle with in strict embrace—
No more into themselves appear retiring—
The ethereal regions beautifying Space!
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Not with those Worlds immortal are they blending
When throned at the highest of Earth's petty height,
But Heaven itself seems down on them descending
When stilled they lie, subdued by their own might!
When throned at the highest of Earth's petty height,
But Heaven itself seems down on them descending
When stilled they lie, subdued by their own might!
Oh! my quick thoughts, from far Imagination
Down sinking fast—to your sole Sea ye flow,
And in those Heaven-touched deeps of Adoration
Remain—exalted more—thus lapsed and low!
Down sinking fast—to your sole Sea ye flow,
And in those Heaven-touched deeps of Adoration
Remain—exalted more—thus lapsed and low!
Fancy and Wisdom—Genius—Inspiration—
Our minds may dwell with ye afar—above—
Still, still to find that Life's best exaltation
Must be in loss of Self and gain of Love!
Our minds may dwell with ye afar—above—
Still, still to find that Life's best exaltation
Must be in loss of Self and gain of Love!
As torrent-streams—wild torrents—flow to Ocean,
With thunders and with lightnings of their might,
So to the depths of one supreme Emotion
Flow all my thoughts—the shadowy and the bright!
With thunders and with lightnings of their might,
So to the depths of one supreme Emotion
Flow all my thoughts—the shadowy and the bright!
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There flows my Soul with all its powers for ever,
Renewed, redoubled, and fresh-born to be!
Without a dream of effort or endeavour—
That Soul, but lives to love, and loves but thee!
Renewed, redoubled, and fresh-born to be!
Without a dream of effort or endeavour—
That Soul, but lives to love, and loves but thee!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |