 | Phantasmion |  |
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[Methought I wander'd dimly on]
Methought I wander'd dimly on,
But few faint stars above me shone,
When Love drew near:
“The night,” said he, “is dark and damp,
To guide thy steps receive this lamp
Of crystal clear.”
But few faint stars above me shone,
When Love drew near:
“The night,” said he, “is dark and damp,
To guide thy steps receive this lamp
Of crystal clear.”
Love lent his torch,—with ready hand
The splendid lamp by his command
I strove to light;
But strove in vain; no flame arose,
Unchanged, unfired as moonlit snows,
It sparkled bright.
The splendid lamp by his command
I strove to light;
But strove in vain; no flame arose,
Unchanged, unfired as moonlit snows,
It sparkled bright.
Again on wings as swift as thought
The boy a glittering cresset brought
Of sunny gold:
Full sure 'twas worth a monarch's gaze,
And how I toil'd to make it blaze
Can scarce be told.
The boy a glittering cresset brought
Of sunny gold:
Full sure 'twas worth a monarch's gaze,
And how I toil'd to make it blaze
Can scarce be told.
Deprived of hope I stood perplex'd,
And, through my tears, what offer'd next
Obscurely floated:
One other lamp Love bade me take,
Mine eye its colour, size or make,
But little noted;
And, through my tears, what offer'd next
Obscurely floated:
One other lamp Love bade me take,
Mine eye its colour, size or make,
But little noted;
Till soon, (what joys my soul inspire!)
From far within a steady fire
Soft upward steals;
And O how many a tender hue,
What lines to loveliest nature true,
That beam reveals!
From far within a steady fire
Soft upward steals;
And O how many a tender hue,
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That beam reveals!
Now what reck I of burnish'd gold,
Or crystal cast in statelier mould?—
This lamp be mine,
Which makes my path where'er I go,
With warm reflected colours glow,
And light divine.
Or crystal cast in statelier mould?—
This lamp be mine,
Which makes my path where'er I go,
With warm reflected colours glow,
And light divine.
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