Glimpses of Antiquity Being a collection of metrical sketches, in the form of ballads, lyrics, &c., with main reference to mediaeval times or classical subjects. By George F. Preston [i.e. J. B. L. Warren] |
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ON THE COAST. |
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 | Glimpses of Antiquity |  |
84
ON THE COAST.
The mellow-throated curlew's call
Sobs up a flickering pulse of sound,
Silverly distant from a fall
Of beach, embanked with shining mound;
Where sea and mountain, sand and sky,
Mete out the landscape rigidly.
Sobs up a flickering pulse of sound,
Silverly distant from a fall
Of beach, embanked with shining mound;
Where sea and mountain, sand and sky,
Mete out the landscape rigidly.
The violet clouds in bearing drench
Are tumbling in a smoke of rain
Against the crystal-white, clear drawn
In many a molten jagged stain.
Small cresting breakers whiten far
Beyond the gleaming ripple-breadths of bar.
Are tumbling in a smoke of rain
Against the crystal-white, clear drawn
In many a molten jagged stain.
Small cresting breakers whiten far
Beyond the gleaming ripple-breadths of bar.
And a sea-music rises up and moves
Upon the aërial mountains to expand
By furrowy granite-raftered fastnesses
In windy ecstasies,
Stern—beautiful. No trace of scheming hand,
A virgin nature: and the wild gull sways
Poised in the raw shrill-driving ocean sprays,
Above the solitary water-caves
Scooped by the tongues of very patient waves,
In all the infinitely measured years.
Upon the aërial mountains to expand
By furrowy granite-raftered fastnesses
In windy ecstasies,
85
A virgin nature: and the wild gull sways
Poised in the raw shrill-driving ocean sprays,
Above the solitary water-caves
Scooped by the tongues of very patient waves,
In all the infinitely measured years.
There is no solitude: around us spread
Lies vast companionship pervading all,—
The answering woods, the storm-shriek o'er our head,
The sympathy of mountain and of fall,
A presence of innumerable powers
In sunset's gold or breath of summer flowers.
Lies vast companionship pervading all,—
The answering woods, the storm-shriek o'er our head,
The sympathy of mountain and of fall,
A presence of innumerable powers
In sunset's gold or breath of summer flowers.
| Glimpses of Antiquity | |