Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
|
|
SWEET BIRD! |
 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
292
SWEET BIRD!
What say'st thou in thy song, sweet Bird?
What say'st thou in thy song?—
Thy warblings I have raptured heard—
A joyous strain and long.
What say'st thou in thy song?—
Thy warblings I have raptured heard—
A joyous strain and long.
What say'st thou in that thrilling lay,
To earth, and sky, and me?
Oh! what doth that rich warble say—
That free fine minstrelsy?
To earth, and sky, and me?
Oh! what doth that rich warble say—
That free fine minstrelsy?
Thou tells't to listening earth and Heaven,
How glad a heart is thine—
And hints and counsels thou hast given,
Oh! happy Bird! to mine!
How glad a heart is thine—
And hints and counsels thou hast given,
Oh! happy Bird! to mine!
293
Have I not still heard through thy strain,
Glad minstrel of the grove,
A tender, yet triumphant vein,
Of feeling and of love?—
Glad minstrel of the grove,
A tender, yet triumphant vein,
Of feeling and of love?—
Hath it not taught me—gentle thing!
(I conned in joy the task!—)
That from our own deep hearts must spring—
The Happiness we ask?—
(I conned in joy the task!—)
That from our own deep hearts must spring—
The Happiness we ask?—
Yet knew I not this truth before?—
Alas! on earth below,
We still must be taught o'er and o'er,
Those things that most we know!
Alas! on earth below,
We still must be taught o'er and o'er,
Those things that most we know!
We need yet more, e'en to be taught,
The things we know the best;
They die upon the accustomed thought—
And sleep in stagnant rest.—
The things we know the best;
They die upon the accustomed thought—
And sleep in stagnant rest.—
294
They ever need to be recalled
Unto our spirit still—
By vainer, lighter things enthralled,
Which charm it and which fill!
Unto our spirit still—
By vainer, lighter things enthralled,
Which charm it and which fill!
Familiar with those great truths grown,
Which Nature uttereth forth,
We pass them o'er—and seldom own
Their wisdom and their worth—
Which Nature uttereth forth,
We pass them o'er—and seldom own
Their wisdom and their worth—
We seldom own—weak, thoughtless, vain,
Their Presence or their Power—
Until they start to view again,
In some impressive hour!
Their Presence or their Power—
Until they start to view again,
In some impressive hour!
Haply the least and lightest things—
The lowest and the last,
May stir once more the stagnant springs—
That then gush free and fast!
The lowest and the last,
May stir once more the stagnant springs—
That then gush free and fast!
295
The mote upon the sunny beam,
The leaf, the bud, the flower—
The moment's ripple on the stream,
May speak to us in power!
The leaf, the bud, the flower—
The moment's ripple on the stream,
May speak to us in power!
The cloud that floats above the head,
The shadows as they start—
The very dust beneath our tread
May act the teacher's part!
The shadows as they start—
The very dust beneath our tread
May act the teacher's part!
And thou for me—oh! little Bird,
Hath well that part performed—
Who have but now that warble heard,
That wakened me and warmed!
Hath well that part performed—
Who have but now that warble heard,
That wakened me and warmed!
That wakened every listening thought,
Warmed every feeling deep—
And mine o'erwearied spirit taught—
Sweet stores of peace to reap!
Warmed every feeling deep—
And mine o'erwearied spirit taught—
Sweet stores of peace to reap!
296
Thanks for these lessons of all love!—
Oh! wise are they that learn,
And in their mild remembrance move—
E'en still to these return!
Oh! wise are they that learn,
And in their mild remembrance move—
E'en still to these return!
We know, we know these things indeed;
We knew them long before;
The more we know the more we need—
To think them o'er and o'er.
We knew them long before;
The more we know the more we need—
To think them o'er and o'er.
Dead on our souls they ofttimes lie—
Forgotten on our hearts—
And all the rich light of their truth
From our dull minds departs.
Forgotten on our hearts—
And all the rich light of their truth
From our dull minds departs.
We know them—and we know them not—
By vainer thought enthrall'd;
They are remembered and forgot—
Retained—yet not recalled.
By vainer thought enthrall'd;
They are remembered and forgot—
Retained—yet not recalled.
297
We thrust them back, we pass them o'er—
We overlook them oft—
Till some chance voice their reign restore
With deep persuasion soft.
We overlook them oft—
Till some chance voice their reign restore
With deep persuasion soft.
Thanks, little Bird, for thy dear lay,
And lovely minstrelsy;
That much to earth and sky did say,
And yet much more to me.
And lovely minstrelsy;
That much to earth and sky did say,
And yet much more to me.
Thou dost not restless range and rove,
To find and forge delight—
Thy bliss is in the shadowy grove
From morning until night.
To find and forge delight—
Thy bliss is in the shadowy grove
From morning until night.
Thou dost not restless range or rove,
New pleasures to devise—
Content with liberty and love;
And, little Bird, thou 'rt wise.—
New pleasures to devise—
Content with liberty and love;
And, little Bird, thou 'rt wise.—
298
What Nature gives, thou still dost take,
And on her bounty feed—
E'en thou dost friend and patron make,
From care and trouble freed.
And on her bounty feed—
E'en thou dost friend and patron make,
From care and trouble freed.
All things to thee, all common things,
Do minister to bliss—
Oh! warbler—for thy free wild wings—
And such a life as this!
Do minister to bliss—
Oh! warbler—for thy free wild wings—
And such a life as this!
Thy song hath raised within my soul
Thoughts I may not let die;
There ever shall the echo roll,
Of that deep melody.
Thoughts I may not let die;
There ever shall the echo roll,
Of that deep melody.
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |