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69
IDYLL.
Damon the shepherd-singer, on a day
When the old Earth was turning in her sleep
To dream of summer and good things to come,
Sate on a flowery hillock by the copse,
And heard a throstle on a flying spray
Chuckle and chirp and make so sweet a din
That all the merry music of the time
Stirred in his heart with envy of her song.
When the old Earth was turning in her sleep
To dream of summer and good things to come,
Sate on a flowery hillock by the copse,
And heard a throstle on a flying spray
Chuckle and chirp and make so sweet a din
That all the merry music of the time
Stirred in his heart with envy of her song.
So preluding awhile upon a reed
Which he had fashioned in a maying-time
But cast away when winter in despite
Shrilled all untuneful thro' the shuddering trees—
His eyes indwelling wistful for a space—
Brake the sweet concert with a sweeter song.
Which he had fashioned in a maying-time
But cast away when winter in despite
Shrilled all untuneful thro' the shuddering trees—
His eyes indwelling wistful for a space—
Brake the sweet concert with a sweeter song.
Spring in the air: and every wind that stirs
Swaying the budding treetops to and fro,
Is freighted with a freshness half divine.
Swaying the budding treetops to and fro,
Is freighted with a freshness half divine.
Spring in the forest;—tender green steals up,
Shaming the tyrants of the winter woods,
Grim yews, and spiky tassels of the pine.
Shaming the tyrants of the winter woods,
Grim yews, and spiky tassels of the pine.
Spring in the fields: God's carpet underfoot,
Starsown with daisies and red spires of seed,
And golden glory of the celandine.
Starsown with daisies and red spires of seed,
And golden glory of the celandine.
70
Spring in the soul: and happy thought puts out
The tender bud, where sweetness lies enshrined
With promise of a golden garnering.
The tender bud, where sweetness lies enshrined
With promise of a golden garnering.
So Damon sang, and all the woods were green.
Cambridge, 1883. (Cambridge Review).
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