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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IN RESTLESS WOODS THE CASTLE GLEAMS.
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 | Glimpses of Antiquity |  |
88
IN RESTLESS WOODS THE CASTLE GLEAMS.
A BALLAD.
In restless woods the castle gleams,
The quivering plovers net the sky.
She rises from ambrosial dreams,
And pensive leans her lattice by.
The quivering plovers net the sky.
She rises from ambrosial dreams,
And pensive leans her lattice by.
A curl of mountain vapour crests
The under-swelling breast of lime;
And creeping on the dial's rest,
The lichen-blossoms measure time.
The under-swelling breast of lime;
And creeping on the dial's rest,
The lichen-blossoms measure time.
A mirrored sheet of crystal mere,
In lavish threads ice-rillets fill.
Round, tapering towards the day-moon, sheer
A chalice-rim of circled hill.
In lavish threads ice-rillets fill.
Round, tapering towards the day-moon, sheer
A chalice-rim of circled hill.
89
Her song falls thro' the wavering leaves,
The grape shoots near her trellis bars:
Her bounteous bosom swells and heaves,
Her mellow eyelids veil their stars.
The grape shoots near her trellis bars:
Her bounteous bosom swells and heaves,
Her mellow eyelids veil their stars.
Unravels all the yielding hair,
Silver in dark, one bright arm drawn,
And floods the shoulder arching fair
To melt in rustling misty lawn.
Silver in dark, one bright arm drawn,
And floods the shoulder arching fair
To melt in rustling misty lawn.
A fragrance touched with wafted brine
Shakes thro' the window seaward set,
And freshening on the brow divine
Ripples the deep rich-clustered jet,
Shakes thro' the window seaward set,
And freshening on the brow divine
Ripples the deep rich-clustered jet,
And dies, as from the poplar row
A leaflet loosens in the calm:
And clear from willow-dykes below
The wheatear chatters at the palm.
A leaflet loosens in the calm:
And clear from willow-dykes below
The wheatear chatters at the palm.
Then faint and subtle, hardly seen,
Across her brow dim shadows rise;
A motive deepened in her mien,
A meaning in her serious eyes.
Across her brow dim shadows rise;
A motive deepened in her mien,
A meaning in her serious eyes.
90
In distant vales a winding horn!—
A flush on cheeks of rosied pearl,
A glance athwart the crystal morn,
A trembling in the raven curl!
A flush on cheeks of rosied pearl,
A glance athwart the crystal morn,
A trembling in the raven curl!
Why tress so quick the glancing braid?
I know a full-branched rowan tree,
Whereon, a mile beneath the glade,
The wood-birds sing deliciously.
I know a full-branched rowan tree,
Whereon, a mile beneath the glade,
The wood-birds sing deliciously.
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