The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery Collected and Revised by the Author |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
|
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
|
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
|
STANZAS.
|
 | The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery |  |
STANZAS.
[Who hath not watch'd the heaven of eve]
(1825.)
Who hath not watch'd the heaven of eve,
When round the horizon seems to weave
A sea of clouds, whose bosoms heave
In floating beauty, there?
When round the horizon seems to weave
A sea of clouds, whose bosoms heave
In floating beauty, there?
Those lovely phantoms, how they glide,
In all their calm and airy pride,
Moved by the breath of eventide
Along the dew-lipp'd flowers!
In all their calm and airy pride,
Moved by the breath of eventide
Along the dew-lipp'd flowers!
622
Some, crimson-wove, voluptuous sail;
Some, girdled with a ruby veil;
And others, beaming brightly-pale
As Beauty's pensive brow.
Some, girdled with a ruby veil;
And others, beaming brightly-pale
As Beauty's pensive brow.
And thus smiles now this rose-wreathed room,
Where float along in braid and plume
All blushing with their virgin bloom
The maidens of the night.
Where float along in braid and plume
All blushing with their virgin bloom
The maidens of the night.
Lo, yonder trips a blue-eyed troop,
Who bend their glowing heads and droop,
As graceful as a lily-group
All languid with perfume.
Who bend their glowing heads and droop,
As graceful as a lily-group
All languid with perfume.
And near them glides a gentle pair
That dance their grape-like clustering hair,
As if their very ringlets were
Communing with their joy!
That dance their grape-like clustering hair,
As if their very ringlets were
Communing with their joy!
On each fair cheek a life-blush warms,
While, radiant with expressive charms,
The virgins twine their ivory arms
And circle through the dance.
While, radiant with expressive charms,
The virgins twine their ivory arms
And circle through the dance.
Like moon-gleams shivering on the lake
Their feet with dizzy motion shake,
As down the dance their steps they take
With love-beams in each eye.
Their feet with dizzy motion shake,
As down the dance their steps they take
With love-beams in each eye.
Then, why, amid this heaven of joy
Should dreams of darkening woe annoy,
Or thoughts of blighting gloom destroy
The elysium of the hour?
Should dreams of darkening woe annoy,
Or thoughts of blighting gloom destroy
The elysium of the hour?
Alas! the scene will swiftly fade;
The music cease; depart the maid,
And cold-eyed Day the room invade,
With uncongenial smile!
The music cease; depart the maid,
And cold-eyed Day the room invade,
With uncongenial smile!
Some hearts will pine, and some will weep,
And many in the grave will sleep,
And every eye shall sorrow steep
Ere we unite again!
And many in the grave will sleep,
And every eye shall sorrow steep
Ere we unite again!
Yes, many a Shape of love and light
Whose eyes are glittering with delight
Like starry Dreams that visit night,
Shall wither into clay!
Whose eyes are glittering with delight
Like starry Dreams that visit night,
Shall wither into clay!
| The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery | |